Presented by Dr Jovyn Ng
Postdoc, Plant&Food Research, New Zealand

ABSTRACT
Dr Jovyn Ng currently works on a New Zealand potato breeding programme, screening for low glycaemic index (GI) potatoes. Unlike the ‘Carisma’ potato variety in Australia, there is currently no potato marketed as low GI in New Zealand, despite Plant & Food Research having an extensive potato germplasm collection. Her study investigates cell wall and starch properties that could be associated with low GI potatoes. Identification of biomarkers related to lowering GI can be used in the development of future marker-assisted breeding programmes for low GI potatoes. This is seen as a way of increasing the nutritional and crop value of such a widely consumed carbohydrate.