A novel CENH3-based immunostaining method for ploidy estimation in potato.

A CENH3-based immunostaining method accurately distinguishes potato ploidy levels with clear signals and robust quantification across multiple genotypes.

• Why it matters: Reliable ploidy estimation is crucial for potato breeding but current techniques are limited by cost, complexity, or throughput, hindering progress.
• What they did: The study developed an immunofluorescence assay using a species-specific antibody to label CENH3 in Solanum leaf nuclei, validated on known ploidy genotypes, and compared with flow cytometry and chromosome counts.
• The result: The method precisely differentiated ploidy levels with significant signal differences, identified mixoploids, and proved broadly applicable across Solanum species, offering a practical tool for breeding programs.