Late Blight Disease (Phytophthora infestans) is the most economically important potato disease with worldwide loss of $6.7 Billion. Annual crop loses worldwide range from 15-30%. Growers in tropical developing countries apply as many as 20-30 fungicide sprays which impact input costs, the environment, and human health.

Publications and articles

 

Book Chapters and Peer Reviewed Publications 

• Byarugaba AA, Baguma G, Jjemba DM, Faith AK, Wasukira A, Magembe E, Njoroge A, Barekye A, Ghislain M., (2021)  Comparative Phenotypic and Agronomic Assessment of Transgenic Potato with 3R-Gene Stack with Complete Resistance to Late Blight Disease. Biology, 10(10):952. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology10100952
• Medendorp, J.; Payumo, J.; Weebaddee, C.; Zarka, K.; Hokanson, K.; Wharton, P.; Douches, D., (2021) “Case Study: A Roadmap for Developing Capacity in Plant Biotechnology Field Research” appears as book chapter in Current Topics in Agricultural Sciences Vol. 1 published by BP International  
• Zarka, K.; Hokanson, K.; Douches, D., (2021) “Molecular Characterization for Risk Assessment of a GM Late Blight Resistant Potato: An Unusual Case,” published by Transgenic Research https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11248-021-00241-2 
• Ambarwati, D.; Santoso, T.J.; Kusmana; Herman, M., (2021) “Experience in Developing Genetically Engineered Potato Resistant to Late Blight Disease” appears as a book chapter in Genetically Modified Crops in Asia-Pacific from Research to Commercialization published by Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO)  
• Dangi, S.; Wharton, P.; Ambarwati, A.; Santoso, T.; Kusmana; Sulastrini, I.; Medendorp, J.; Hokanson, K.; Douches, D., (2020) Genotypic and phenotypic characterization of Phytophthora infestans populations on Java, Indonesia, Plant Pathology https://doi.org/10.1111/ppa.13269 
• Webi, E. N., Kariuki, D., Kinyua, J., Njoroge, A., Ghislain, M., & Magembe, E. (2019). Extreme resistance to late blight disease by transferring 3 R genes from wild relatives into African farmer-preferred potato varieties. African Journal of Biotechnology, 18(29), 845-856.
• Ghislain, M., Byarugaba, A.A., Magembe, E., Njoroge, A., Rivera, C., Román, M.L., Tovar, J.C., Gamboa, S., Forbes, G.A., Kreuze, J.F., Barekye, A. and Kiggundu, A. (2019), Stacking three late blight resistance genes from wild species directly into African highland potato varieties confers complete field resistance to local blight races. Plant Biotechnol J, 17: 1119-1129. https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.13042
• Ghislain, M.; Douches, D., (2019), The genes and genomes of the potato, appears as a book chapter in The Potato Crop: Its Agricultural, Nutritional and Social Contribution to Humankind published by Springer. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-28683-5 
• Schiek, B.; Hareau, G.; Baguma, Y.; Medakkar, A.; Douches, D.; Shotkoski, F; Ghislain, M., (2016) Demystification of GM crop costs: Releasing Late Blight Resistant Potato Varieties as Public Goods in Developing Countries, International Journal of Biotechnology https://www.inderscienceonline.com/doi/abs/10.1504/IJBT.2016.077942
• Halterman, D.; Guenthner, J.; Collinge, S; Butler, N.; Douches, D., (2015) Biotech Potatoes in the 21^st Century: 20 years Since the First Biotech Potato, American Journal of Potato Research https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12230-015-9485-1 

Articles, Reports, and Videos

• AATF, (2022) New partnership to improve potato productivity debuts in Nigeria. AATF blog
• Agaba, J., (2022) Partnership on Track to Give Bangladeshi and Indonesian Farmers Disease Resistant GMO Potatoes. Alliance for Science. Article
• Video, CIP (2022) 3R potato promises to protect farmers from late blight devastation
• Feed the Future Biotechnology Potato Partnership Final Project Report. 
• Atakos, V., Ghislain, M., (2021) Defeating potato late blight with famers’ help in Uganda. GFAR Blog
• Video, CIP (2021) Potato Farming in Uganda, Managing the Impact of Late Blight with the 3R Victoria
• Video, CIP (2021) 3R Victoria, Biotech Potato Promises Brighter Futures for Farmers in Uganda
• Video, CIP (2021) 3R Victoria, a Promising Solution to Late Blight in Uganda
• Video, CIP (2021) 3R Victoria a New Hope for Farmers in Uganda
• Ssali, M., (2021) Potato production can increase at less cost. The Monitor. Article
• Maina, J., (2021) Toward healthier, disease free potatoes. Star Farmer. Article
• Webl, E., (2021) GM crops hold the key to feeding world’s fast growing population. The Standard. Article
• Feed the Future Biotechnology Potato Partnership Annual Report 2021.
• Douches, D; Fierro, J., (2021), How One Plant Breeder Innovates to tackle Potato’s Biggest Challenge. The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Global Food for Thought Blog. Article 
• Fierro, J., (2021). Feed the Future Biotetchnology Potato Partnership, Newsletter 2021  Constant Contact. Electronic Publication Fierro, J., (2019). Feed the Future Biotetchnology Potato Partnership, Newsletter 2019 Vol.4 Constant Contact. Electronic Publication
• Meeme, V., (2020) Fighting blight with GMO potatoes. Alliance for Science. Article
• Video, CIP (2020) Towards a Late Blight resistant potato for Africa
• CIP, (2020) Late blight resistant potatoes in Uganda promise impressive returns. Blog
• Daba, T., (2020) Why a new potato variety could be a game-changer for farmers in East Africa. The Conversation.
• Article, (2020) Ugandan experts forecast 40-50% adoption of new bioengineered potato Victoria. Blog
• CIP, (2020) Late blight resistant potato for Africa. Project profile
• Feed the Future Biotechnology Potato Partnership Annual Report 2020.
• Fierro, J., (2020), Researchers Map Late Blight Strains In Potato on Java, Indonesia. Potato Pro. Article 
• Halterman, D; Richael, C.; Douches, D., (2020), Biotech Potatoes Can Bring Improved Performance, Quality to Global Markets. Spudman. Article https://spudman.com/article/biotech-potatoes-improved-performance-quality-global-markets/ 
• Fierro, J., (2020), MSU Researcher Reflects on First Earth Day Celebration; “It Inspired Me to Dedicate My Career to Potato Research. CANR Newsletter. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/msu-researcher-reflects-on-first-earth-day-celebration-it-inspired-me-to-dedicate-my-career-to-potato-research 
• Fierro, J., (2020). Feed the Future Biotetchnology Potato Partnership, Newsletter 2020  Constant Contact. Electronic Publication Constant Contact. Electronic Publication https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Quarterly-Update-Volume-Four-2019.html?soid=1130045626052&aid=nK6pr7qHqgM 
• Feed the Future Biotechnology Potato Partnership Annual Report 2019. https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00WBW4.pdf
• Video, UBC-TV (2019) GMO Potatoes Outwit Late Blight Disease
• Ghislain, M., Barekye, A. (2019) Bioengineered potato: Resistance to late blight disease and higher crop yields. CGIAR Research Brief
• CIP, (2019) Biotech Potato Keeps Late Blight Disease in Check, New Study Finds. Blog
• Fierro, J.; Cole, D.; Hossain, A., (2019) Feed the Future Biotechnology Potato Partnership. YouTube. Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mxkoX_UTEg 
• Fierro, J., (2019). Feed the Future Biotetchnology Potato Partnership, Newsletter 2019 Vol.4 Constant Contact. Electronic Publication https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Quarterly-Update-Volume-Four-2019.html?soid=1130045626052&aid=nK6pr7qHqgM 
• Fierro, J., (2019). Feed the Future Biotetchnology Potato Partnership, Newsletter 2019 Vol.3 Constant Contact. Electronic Publication https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Quarterly-Update-Volume-Three--2019.html?soid=1130045626052&aid=bxcKVGihYPo 
• Fierro, J., (2019). In The Field with Pathologist Phillip Wharton. Feed the Future Biotechnology Potato Partnership Quarterly News. Article https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/in-the-field-pathologist-phillip-wharton-is-on-the-hunt 
• Fierro, J., (2019). Feed the Future Biotetchnology Potato Partnership, Newsletter 2019 Vol.2 Constant Contact. Electronic Publication https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Quarterly-Update-Volume-Two--2019.html?soid=1130045626052&aid=GjRvILN53zY 
• Fierro, J., (2019). Feed the Future Biotetchnology Potato Partnership, Newsletter 2019 Vol.1 Constant Contact. Electronic Publication https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Quarterly-Update-Volume-One--2019.html?soid=1130045626052&aid=Hh9yH_rlD3w 
• Video, ISAAA AfriCenter (2018) Conquering Potato-late-blight Disease: African Farmers to Benefit from new Resistant Varieties
• Video, Alliance for Science (2018) Uganda’s GMO Potato Story
• CIP (2018) Late-blight-resistant potatoes hold promise for farmers in Uganda and beyond. CIP blog
• CIP, (2018) Potato farmers in Uganda wait on new ‘Victoria’. Blog
• Feed the Future Biotechnology Potato Partnership Annual Report 2018. https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00TNCK.pdf
• Fierro, J., (2018). Feed the Future Biotetchnology Potato Partnership, Newsletter 2018 Vol.4 Constant Contact. Electronic Publication https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Quarterly-Update-Volume-Four--2018.html?soid=1130045626052&aid=sjkiSPqEEVY 
• Fierro, J., (2018). Feed the Future Biotetchnology Potato Partnership, Newsletter 2018 Vol.3 Constant Contact. Electronic Publication https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Quarterly-Update.html?soid=1130045626052&aid=DOawAcA0IyY 
• Fierro, J., (2018). Biotech Breeding Looks to Knock Out Late Blight. Global Potato News Magazine. Article. https://www.potatonewstoday.com/2018/11/20/biotech-potato-breeding-project-looks-to-knock-out-late-blight/ 
• Fierro, J., (2018). Feed the Future Biotetchnology Potato Partnership, Newsletter 2018 Vol.2 Constant Contact. Electronic Publication https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Spring-2018-Quarterly-Update.html?soid=1130045626052&aid=H3SwjeWXAM4 
• Fierro, J., (2018). Feed the Future Biotechnology Potato Partnership Launches 3R-Gene Late Blight Resistant Potato in Bangladesh. South Asia Biosafety Newsletter. Article https://m.mdgottwald.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/ILSIRF_SABP_01_January_2018.pdf 
• Fierro, J., (2018). Feed the Future Biotetchnology Potato Partnership, Newsletter 2018 Vol.1 Constant Contact. Electronic Publication https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Winter-2018-Quarterly-Update.html?soid=1130045626052&aid=Sy9oEoN8yz0 
• Video, CIP (2017) Biotech potato: solution to devasting late blight disease?
• CIP, (2017) Bold for change: fighting potato late blight disease in Africa. Blog
• CIP, (2017) Field test of biotech potato shows impressive control of late blight disease. Blog
• Feed the Future Biotechnology Potato Partnership, Annual Report 2017. https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00T2XJ.pdf
• Lashbrook, B., (2017). Biotech in Indonesia and Bangladesh. Michigan State University, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, In the Field. Article https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/biotech_in_indonesia_and_bangladesh 
• Fierro, J., (2017). Feed the Future Biotetchnology Potato Partnership, Newsletter 2017 Vol.1 Newsletter. Electronic Publication https://www.canr.msu.edu/biotechpp/publications/ftf%20newsletter%2010.15%20page_compressed.pdf 
• Ghislan, M.; Douches, D.; Fierro, J.; Zarka, K., (2017) Field Test of Biotech Potato Shows Impressive Control of Late Blight Disease. International Potato Center News. Blog https://cipotato.org/press_room/blogs/field-test-biotech-potato-shows-impressive-control-late-blight-disease/ 

• Video, Ubic (2016) NARO institute develops new Irish potato variety to curb late blight