NDSU graduate student Tannis Anderson presented her research at the 106th annual meeting of the Potato Association of America.

NDSU graduate student Tannis Anderson placed fifth in the graduate student research presentation competition at the 106th annual meeting of the Potato Association of America. A total of 26 students participated.

The meeting was held July 17-21 in Missoula, Montana, and was the association’s first in-person meeting since 2019.

Anderson is a master’s degree student from Christine, North Dakota, and is advised by Asunta Thompson, associate professor of plant sciences and potato breeding project leader.

Anderson presented “Establishing an Efficient and Economic Diploid Potato Production Scheme.” Her research objective is to find the most efficient and economic method for utilizing diploid induction in the NDSU potato breeding program. She will compare the use of inducer lines and another culture to produce diploids (cells containing two homologous sets of chromosomes) from existing tetraploid (cells containing four homologous sets of chromosomes) NDSU potato cultivars. Diploid breeding has the potential to decrease the length of time it takes to develop a new potato variety.

The PAA is a professional society for those involved in potato research, extension, production and utilization.

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