The Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research (MPIPZ)

The Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research (MPIPZ), based in Cologne, Germany, is a renowned research center dedicated to enhancing plant genetics and breeding methods.

In the potato industry, MPIPZ has helped decode the complicated genome of cultivated potatoes, which are autotetraploid, meaning they have four copies of each chromosome. This complexity has previously caused difficulties for traditional breeding methods.

In a landmark work, MPIPZ collaborated with Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München to effectively reconstruct the genomes of ten historic European potato varieties. These cultivars were discovered to contain around 85% of the genetic variability observed in modern European potatoes. 

Despite the overall small genetic foundation, considerable variances between individual chromosomal copies were discovered, providing important insights for future breeding techniques aimed at increasing crop resilience and productivity.