Overexpression of Arabidopsis thaliana LOV KELCH REPEAT PROTEIN 2 promotes tuberization in potato (Solanum tuberosum cv. May Queen)

Potato tuberization is induced under short-day conditions and repressed under long-day conditions. In this study, we produced transgenic potatoes overexpressing either Arabidopsis thaliana LOV KELCH PROTEIN 2 (35S:LKP2) or CONSTANS fused with a transcription repressor motif (35S:CO-Rep). In an in vitro tuberization assay, the average number of tubers per plant was greater in 35S:LKP2 plants than in vector-control plants, but lower in 35S:CO-Rep plants. Under long-day conditions in soil, all 35S:LKP2 plants tuberized, whereas most control plants and 35S:CO-Rep plants did not. These results suggest genes involved in flowering time regulation can be used to control potato tuber production.