International Journal of Molecular Ecology and Conservation, 2025, Vol.15, No.2, 83-90 http://ecoevopublisher.com/index.php/ijmec 86 4.3 Modulation of tuber shape stability by environmental factors Tuber shape is influenced by temperature, moisture, and soil quality. These factors control when tubers sleep and when they start growing. Temperature and humidity decide when tubers wake from dormancy and begin growth. High temperatures usually disrupt the transportation of sugar within plants. This will reduce the yield and make the tuber shapes inconsistent. Drought conditions or high-temperature stress can also slow down the swelling of tubers, reducing yield and quality (Kondhare et al., 2021). These factors seldom act alone; they are usually combined with genetic control. For instance, the StCDF1-StFLORE region helps manage water use and participates in tuber formation. This indicates how genes and the environment interact when conditions change (Li, 2024). 5 Mechanisms of Gene-Environment Interaction 5.1 Relationship between gene expression and environmental signals The genes of potatoes respond to external signals. The length of sunlight and the chemical tags on DNA are particularly important. When the level of microRNA156 is relatively high, tubers can form from above-ground stems under short-day conditions. This indicates how the environment directly affects gene behavior and growth patterns (Thomson et al., 2022). Another example is the DXS gene, which contributes to the synthesis of isoprene. The change of this gene will affect the morphology and germination characteristics of the tubers. This once again demonstrates the close relationship between growth conditions and gene function (Nahirnak et al., 2022). 5.2 Comprehensive effects of gene-environment interactions on tuber shape formation The shape of the tuber is the result of the combined effect of genetic background and environmental signals. The Ro site on chromosome 10 is the main regulatory factor and can explain most of the shape differences. Meanwhile, the length of light exposure and epigenetic modifications also play a role in shaping the form. Studies have found that there are significant differences in DNA methylation patterns and transcriptional activities between round tubers and long tubers, indicating that environmental signals change the appearance of tubers by regulating gene expression (Kolchanov et al., 2017). 5.3 Analysis of multi-environment experimental results in the case study Experiments in different regions have shown that gene-environment interaction (GEI) significantly affects the yield and quality of potatoes. A study on organic farms in Poland found that the yield differences mainly stem from the environment. However, plant genes and GEI also play significant roles (Ma et al., 2024). Some varieties can maintain high and stable yields under different conditions. This indicates that combining excellent genes with environmental adaptability is of vital importance. This discovery indicates that in order to achieve better results, breeding programs should take into account both genetic effects and environmental factors. 5.4 Genetic and environmental regulation of phenotypic adaptability and stability The adaptability and stability of tuber traits depend on both genes and the environment. For instance, the StGA2ox1 gene responds to external signals. It can alter the level of growth hormone, helping the tubers start growing earlier (Merrick et al., 2022). Transcription factors within cells and chemical tags on DNA also play a crucial role in shaping the development of tubers and their final morphology (Deng and Chen, 2024). These studies show that genetic programs and external pressures work together to shape the way potato tubers form and their final form. 6 Strategies for Improving Tuber Shape in Commercial Varieties 6.1 Application of marker-assisted selection (MAS) using genetic information Marker-assisted selection (MAS) is a commonly used breeding method, which is particularly effective for single-gene traits or major QTL-related traits. In the study of potato tuber shape, the use of molecular markers closely related to superior traits can significantly improve breeding efficiency (Figure 2). For instance, the QTL TScha6 found on chromosome 6 of diploid potatoes is closely related to the shape of the tubers. The CAPS tag C6-58.27_665 has also been confirmed to be related to the aspect ratio height. These markers can be directly used in MAS to help quickly screen plants with more ideal shapes and accelerate the breeding process of superior commercial varieties (Hickey et al., 2019).
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ4ODYzNA==