Abstract
Potato starch gelatinization and retrogradation properties underpin functional performance in food and industrial applications, yet their genetic architecture in potato remains incompletely resolved. We profiled gelatinization and retrogradation traits by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in a diverse potato panel across two environments. Wide genotypic variation in all the traits was observed, with highly significant genotype, environment, and genotype by environment (G × E) effects. Gelatinization temperatures were strongly correlated with each other and positively associated with the retrogradation percentage. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified loci near ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase large subunit (AGPL) on chromosome 1 for onset gelatinization temperature, glucan water dikinase (GWD) on chromosome 5) for conclusion gelatinization temperature, and ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase small subunit (AGPS) and starch branching enzyme (SBE) on chromosome 7 for the retrogradation peak temperature. These findings implicate that carbon flux, starch phosphorylation, and branching are key factors determining the starch functional properties. Together, the results provide a foundation for targeted breeding strategies aimed at improving starch quality for both industrial and food applications.