Solanum tuberosum L. (common potato) is one of the most important crops produced almost all over the world. Genomic sequences of potato opens the way for studying the molecular variations related to diversification. We performed a reconstruction of genomic sequences for 15 tetraploid potato cultivars grown in Russia using short reads. Protein-coding genes were identified; conserved and variable parts of pan-genome and the repertoire of the NBS-LRR genes were characterized. For comparison, we used additional genomic sequences for twelve South American potato accessions, performed analysis of genetic diversity, and identified the copy number variations (CNVs) in two these groups of potato. Genomes of Russian potato cultivars were more homogeneous by CNV characteristics and have smaller maximum deletion size in comparison with South American ones. Genes with different CNV occurrences in two these groups of potato accessions were identified. We revealed genes of immune/abiotic stress response, transport and five genes related to tuberization and photoperiod control among them. Four genes related to tuberization and photoperiod were investigated in potatoes previously (phytochrome A among them). A novel gene, homologous to the poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG) of Arabidopsis, was identified that may be involved in circadian rhythm control and contribute to the acclimatization processes of Russian potato cultivars.

Chloroplasts are important organelles in a plant cell, having their own DNA (cpDNA), transmitted only through the female line, and performing the function of photosynthesis. The determination of chloroplast DNA is of interest in the study of the genetic diversity and phylogeny of potatoes, and of cytoplasmic sterility, as well as for applications in biotechnology and genetic engineering. Here, we reconstructed the complete plastomes of 15 S. tuberosum potato cultivars grown in Russia. Our analysis allowed us to determine the composition and location of genes for these plastid DNAs. It was shown that the plastid genome contains both highly and low-variable regions. The region at position 63,001–68,000 nt has the highest variability. We determined the types of cpDNA based on in silico approaches: 10 cultivars have cpDNA of the W-type and 5 cultivars have cpDNA of the T-type. The genetic diversity of the plastid DNA for these potato cultivars was analyzed alongside the previously reconstructed plastomes of South American accessions, European/North American commercial cultivars and potato cultivars bred in the Ural region. The results show that plastid DNAs of the same type form clusters by sequence similarity, in agreement with previous studies.