The potato is one of the most vital crops in the world for feeding the poor, evidenced by the United Nations' declaration that 2008 is the Year of the Potato. But this versatile vegetable is susceptible to many pests, diseases, environmental stresses and quality problems.
So if the most widespread varieties were stricken with blight as deadly as the one that struck Ireland in 1845, what would the world do?
One place it would turn would be the genebank near Sturgeon Bay that has stored the genetic materials for hundreds of types of potatoes -- including the wild varieties that might save us in case of a worldwide catastrophe.
Wild and cultivated potato relatives have genes that can be hybridized with modern varieties to help them resist diseases and pests, said John Bamberg, project leader of the Potato Genebank at the University of Wisconsin's Peninsular Agricultural Research Station.
However, natural habitats for wild potato varieties have been lost to deforestation, grazing, alien plants and urbanization, so it is important that the genebank stores and keeps track of these many genetic varieties, Bamberg said.
Genetic materials also are distributed to researchers around the world -- without cost and postage-free -- in order to improve current varieties and create ever-better potatoes.
