Freeze dried slice of disease resistant genetically modified (GM) potato and non-GM blight infected potato slice.

Freeze dried slice of disease resistant genetically modified (GM) potato and non-GM blight infected potato slice.

Object: Blight-resistant potato

2024

Both of these potatoes were exposed to late blight, a disease that causes the crop to rot. You can see the one on the top hasn’t rotted. It was engineered to be resistant.

Scientists added genes from a nightshade plant in the same family, which naturally resists blight. It means potatoes can be grown without needing fungicides harmful to nature.

Donated by The Sainsbury Laboratory

Object no. E2024.0253.1