Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #296372
Title: Genotype-specific changes in vitamin B6 content and the PDX family in potato

Author
item MOONEY, SUTTON - Washington State University
item CHEN, LIYUAN - Washington State University
item KUHN, CHRISTINA - Humboldt University
item Navarre, Duroy - Roy
item KNOWLES, RICHARD - Washington State University
item HELLMAN, HANJO - Washington State University

Submitted to: BioMed Research International
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/28/2013
Publication Date: 7/19/2013
Citation: Mooney, S., Chen, L., Kuhn, C., Navarre, D.A., Knowles, R., Hellman, H. 2013. Genotype-specific changes in vitamin B6 content and the PDX family in potato. BioMed Research International. doi:10.1155/2013/389723.

Interpretive Summary: This work evaluated the vitamin B6 concentrations in a variety of potato germplasm and the expression of the gene PDX1 in different potato tissues including tubers, leaves, roots and flowers, along with the effects of storage and development. Potatoes were found to be a good source of this vitamin, which showed no clear trend to vary during development, but expression of some of the Vit B6 genes were higher earlier in development. Vitamin B6 increased up to 40% during long term cold storage.

Technical Abstract: Vitamin B6 is one of the most versatile cofactors in plants and an essential phytonutrient in the human diet that benefits a variety of human health aspects. Although biosynthesis of the vitamin has been well resolved in recent years, the main research is currently based on Arabidopsis thaliana with very little work done on major crop plants. Here we provide the first report on interactions and expression profiles of PDX genes for vitamin B6 biosynthesis in potato and how vitamin B6 content varies in tubers of different genotypes. The results demonstrate that potato is an excellent resource for this vitamin and that strong natural variation in vitamin B6 content among the tested cultivars indicates high potential to fortify vitamin B6 nutrition in potato-based foods.