Altered plastidic ATP/ADP-transporter activity influences potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tuber morphology, yield and composition of tuber starch

Abstract

The metabolic function of the plastidic ATP/ADP transporter (AATP) in heterotrophic plastids was examined in transgenic potato plants that exhibited increased or decreased amounts of the protein. Altered mRNA levels correlated with activities of the plastidic ATP/ADP transporter. Potato tubers with decreased plastidic ATP/ADP transporter activities exhibited reduced starch contents whereas sense lines accumulated increased amounts of tuber starch. Starch from wild-type tubers had an amylose content of 18.8%, starch from antisense plants contained 11.5-18.0% amylose, whereas starch from sense plants had levels of 22.7-27.0%. The differences in physiological parameters were accompanied with altered tuber morphology. These changes are discussed with respect to the stromal ATP supply during starch biosynthesis.