Sep 17, 2025Late blight-resistant varieties near release in Kenya
New potato varieties bred to be resistant to late blight are close to approval and release in Kenya.
The 3R-gene potatoes have been developed with the insertion of a three-gene stack of resistance genes taken from wild potato species. Researched for decades by the International Potato Center (CIP) in Lima, Peru, and Nairobi, Kenya, a 3R variety is on the cusp of release in East Africa, according to the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO).
2Blades Foundation has been a long-term funder and collaborator of the project, along with Feed the Future, J.R. Simplot Company, and other research partners. Their support ensured the project could continue in Kenya after the withdrawal of USAID funds earlier this year.
Feed the Future Biotechnology Potato Partnership has conducted multiple field trials in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria and the U.S.
During a recent visit to KALRO’s potato and biotech research sites, the process for the final stages of regulatory approval in Kenya was observed, according to KALRO. With resistance efficacy and yield protection established, the team is now producing enough material for Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) review and targeting a 2026 release.
Late blight, caused by the water mold Phytophthora infestans, remains a persistent threat to potato production because of limited and resistance in domesticated potato (Solanum tuberosum).
Potato relatives, like Solanum bulbocastanum, are hardier, with resistance receptors that detect P. infestans and trigger the plant’s defenses. CIP scientists have shown that these receptors can be introduced into domesticated potato varieties preferred by farmers, retaining yield, flavor and other characteristics.
These disease receptors are naturally present in all plants. However, because the receptors from these potato relatives were introduced as individual genes through biotechnology, they undergo strict safety testing and regulatory scrutiny, adding time, effort and cost.
