Abstract
Potato starch content is a key quality trait determining its value in food processing and industrial applications, regulated by the coordinated action of multiple gene networks. Genome-wide association study (GWAS), a high-throughput approach for dissecting the genetic basis of complex quantitative traits, has become a powerful tool for functional gene discovery in crops. In this study, phenotypic data and whole-genome resequencing information from various Solanum tuberosum cultivars were integrated to identify significant genetic loci and candidate genes associated with starch synthesis using GWAS. The analysis revealed several loci significantly correlated with starch content, with most single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in genomic regions involved in carbon metabolism, sugar transport, and starch biosynthetic pathways. Further functional annotation and bioinformatic analyses identified several key candidate genes, including those encoding ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase, starch synthase, and transporter proteins, which may play crucial roles in the regulation of starch biosynthesis. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying starch accumulation in potatoes and offer valuable genetic resources and molecular targets for marker-assisted breeding of high-starch-content cultivars.
