Flowers of a self-compatible S1 potato developed by the lab, selected from a diploid F1 population of a primary dihaploid
from a tetraploid potato variety crossed to a self-compatible diploid breeding line.

Welcome to the Haploid Genomics Lab


We are a diverse and dynamic team of researchers working on questions centered around haploid induction systems as the primary tool for our studies, and its utilization for conventional and diploid potato breeding. Genome elimination is a biological phenomenon that can occur in plants and animals during sexual reproduction. An embryo undergoing genome elimination loses an entire parental chromosome set in early development, resulting in haploid offspring that carry only half the expected number of chromosomes. Potential outcomes from studying haploid induction is to enhance potato breeding and improvement efforts to address challenges in disease resistance, productivity, nutritional needs, and environmental stresses for this important food crop.

Utilizing diploid potato populations derived from cultivated potato, we are also interested in the mechanistic basis and evolutionary consequences of chromosome instability and change that arise during this process. By using the haploid induction and genome elimination systems in potato and Arabidopsis thaliana, we address pressing questions on genome instability by using genomics, phenomics, cytogenetics and traditional genetics approaches to ask questions such as:

  • How do cells decide whether to repair or to eliminate unstable chromosomes during genome elimination?

  • What are the requirements to transmit, stabilize, and transfer derived minichromosomes that arise spontaneously during genome elimination?

  • What are the outcomes of haploid induction in potato? Can this be leveraged further for potato breeding?

  • How can we help to accelerate conventional and diploid potato breeding?


Research Opportunities


Currently, we are focused on using cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum) and Arabidopsis thaliana for studies involving genome elimination, haploid induction, minichromosomes, potato virus Y and on diploid potato breeding and genetics.

If you are interested, please send me an email.