Daphne’s research investigates the genetic factors influencing starch composition in potatoes and their effects on field performance and consumer acceptance. The first study involves a comparative analysis of agronomic traits and postharvest quality across 12 commercial russet potato varieties, grown in varied environments to assess yield, storability, and French fry color. The second study employs a GWAS to uncover genomic markers linked to starch profiles, aiming to better understand how these markers influence critical processing and sensory traits. The third study explores the wound healing abilities of cut seed pieces, addressing the prevailing misconception that high starch content correlates with poor wound heal
ing potential and inadequate agronomic traits.