Genetic Loci Determining Drought Resistance of Potato reveled by Genome-wide Association Study (GWAS)

Detecting the genetic footprint of drought resistance is important and imperative. Here, we report a high-quality genomic variation database by whole-genome resequencing of 230 potato individuals. Through phylogenetic population structure analysis, we uncover that the breeding of potatoes was international interaction, not independent. Selective-sweep analysis detected 560 drought resistance response related genes, including ZFP, MYB and ERF transcription factors. Furthermore, based on three different models, the genome-wide association studies for drought resistance identified a set of candidate genes, such as MYB, WRKY and ERF, PP2A, UGT, E3 ubiquitin ligase, ZFP, etc., some crucial candidate genes were identified by different models at the same time. Among them, 15 candidates were identified both by GWAS and selective-sweep analysis, significant SNP 4:1861996 in the exon region of LBR (late blight resistance protein) harboring different genotype with different drought resistance. Our study provides important insights into the genetic basis of drought resistance, and will facilitate the cultivation of drought-resistant potato.