Growing Nutrient-Rich Potatoes for an Impoverished World

Richard Veilleux and Mark Williams of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in the U.S., along with Merideth Bonierbale of the International Potato Center in South America, will examine genetic and environmental influences that affect the accumulation of phytonutrients, specifically iron and zinc, in potatoes. Understanding the interaction between microorganisms in the soil and genes in the plant could lead to strategies to alleviate human micronutrient deficiencies in populations dependent upon the potato as a staple.