The goal of SOLAR (Solanum Aphids Resistant) project is to:

Produce new potato somatic hybrids (PSH) with resistance to the highly polyphagous aphid, Brachycaudus helichrysi, an important pest of potato, using somatic hybridization (SH) technique.

We start from TRL2 since we have already obtained potato plants with resistance to the Colorado potato beetle (CPB) and will reach TRL3 by showing the feasibility of SH for integrating resistance to aphids. For that we will use as a partner wild relatives, Solanum bulbocastanum and S. berthaultii, which are difficult to breed with potato plants and are known for having high resistance to aphids.

Reaching TRL3 we can assist the breeders/cultivators of potato plants by providing material with high genetic variability, contributing to shortening the time towards a sustainable agriculture. Colina Farms (CF) is a small company, ecologically accredited since 2019, which has as the main goal to broaden the spectrum of vegetables suitable for eco-farming. By providing PSH with integrated resistance to aphids, the current project would fulfill exactly this goal.

CF engages in this collaboration to have firsthand access to the entire process of obtaining the hybrids. In addition, these hybrids will reach into the farm, the resistant lines will be cultivated as such and others will enter in breeding. In the future, depending on the company's investment capacity, CF will be able to include this technology as an activity or to use it by accessing services.