David De Koeyer, Ph.D.

Image David De Koeyer
Research Scientist

Potato Breeder and Geneticist. Leader of AAFC's National Potato Breeding Program with research activities at Fredericton and Lethbridge Research and Development Centres. 

Current research and/or projects

Potato breeding, genomics, quantitative genetics, and bioinformatics research to increase agricultural productivity and maximize economic returns to producers and other industry participants. Develop new potato varieties to enhance sustainability of potato production.

Research and/or project statements

  • Improve efficiency of potato germplasm enhancement using new breeding strategies, including marker-assisted selection, genomic selection, and diploid breeding;
  • Utilize bioinformatics and genomic tools to increase knowledge of genes affecting tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses in potato;
  • Develop novel and improved potato germplasm to reduce the impact of economically important potato pests and diseases;
  • Develop elite potato clones with better attributes (storability and quality) for processing and fresh markets;
  • License potato varieties to industry partners.

Professional activities / interests

Collaboration with International potato breeding and genetics teams to develop improved breeding methods and germplasm; 

Training of graduate students and post-docs;

Member of the Potato Association of America;

Leadership and participation in projects with AAFC and external professionals, technicians, support staff and students.

Education and awards

Ph.D. Plant Breeding, University of Minnesota, 1996

M.Sc. Plant Breeding, University of Minnesota, 1992

B.Sc.(Agr.) Crop Science, University of Guelph, 1988

International experience and/or work

2015 – 2018. AfricaYam Project Manager and Yam Breeding Scientist, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Key publications

  1. De Koeyer, D., R. Morgan, E. Fava, K. Gardner, B. Bizimungu, and H. Tai. 2023. Genomic prediction and association analysis in the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Potato Breeding Program. p. 33. In: Northeast Potato Technology Forum 2023 Conspectus. March 21-22, Fredericton, NB

    2023 - View publication details

  2. De Koeyer, D., B. Bizimungu, M. Antoun, L. Jewell, E. Fava, and R. Morgan. 2022. The use of genetic resistance to control potato wart caused by Synchytrium endobioticum – a Canadian perspective. Canadian Society of Horticultural Science Annual Meeting, August 19-20, 2022 Halifax, NS

    2022 - View publication details

  3. Asfaw, A., Aderonmu, D.S., Darkwa, K., De Koeyer, D., Agre, P., Abe, A., Olasanmi, B., Adebola, P., Asiedu, R. (2021). Genetic parameters, prediction, and selection in a white Guinea yam early-generation breeding population using pedigree information. Crop Science, [online] 61(2), 1038-1051. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20382

    2021 - View publication details

  4. Bhattacharjee, R., Agre, P., Bauchet, G., de Koeyer, D., Lopez-Montes, A., Lava Kumar, P., Abberton, M., Adebola, P., Asfaw, A., Asiedu, R. (2020). Genotyping-by-sequencing to unlock genetic diversity and population structure in white yam (dioscorea rotundata poir.). Agronomy, [online] 10(9), http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/AGRONOMY10091437

    2020 - View publication details

  5. Chen, D., Nahar, K., Bizimungu, B., Soucy, S., Peters, R.D., De Koeyer, D., Dickison, V. (2020). A Simple and Efficient Inoculation Method for Fusarium Dry Rot Evaluations in Potatoes. American Journal of Potato Research, [online] 97(3), 265-271. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12230-020-09774-4

    2020 - View publication details

  6. Nie, X., Dickison, V., Singh, M., de Koeyer, D., Xu, H., Bai, Y., Hawkins, G. (2020). Potato tuber necrosis induced by alfalfa mosaic virus depends on potato cultivar rather than on virus strain. Plant Disease, [online] 104(2), 340-347. http://dx.doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-04-19-0827-RE

    2020 - View publication details

  7. Nie X, Dickison V, Singh M, De Koeyer D, Xu H, Bai Y, and Hawkins G. 2019. Potato tuber necrosis induced by alfalfa mosaic virus depends on potato cultivars rather than on virus strains. Plant Health 2019 – American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting, Cleveland, OH, 3-7 August 2019. Presentation No. 401-P2.

    2019 - View publication details

  8. De Koeyer, D., M. Lagüe, V. Dickison, K. Gardner, H. Tai and L. Mueller. 2019. Building a digital ecosystem for potato breeding. 103rd Annual meeting of the Potato Association of America, Winnipeg, MB July 2019.

    2019 - View publication details

  9. Alabi, T.R., Adebola, P.O., Asfaw, A., De Koeyer, D., Lopez-Montes, A., Asiedu, R. (2019). Spatial multivariate cluster analysis for defining target population of environments in West Africa for yam breeding, 10(3), 1-30. http://dx.doi.org/10.4018/ijagr.2019070104

    2019 - View publication details

  10. De Koeyer, D., V. Dickison, K. Gardner, B. Bizimungu, D. Chen, C. Goyer, L. Kawchuk, D. Main, J. Neilson, X. Nie, A. Smith, and H. Tai. 2019. Modernization of the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Potato Breeding Program. p. 34. In: Northeast Potato Technology Forum 2019 Conspectus. March 20-21, Charlottetown, PE.

    2019 - View publication details

  11. Matsumoto, R., H. Ishikawa, S. Korie, and D. De Koeyer. 2018. Varietal differences in tuber yield and fertiliser response in a F1 mapping population of water yam (Dioscorea alata L.). p. 286. In: Tropentag 2018: Global food security and food safety: the role of universities Tielkes, E. (ed.) 1. Aufl. - Weikersheim: Margraf Publishers GmbH

    2018 - View publication details

  12. Prince Emmanuel Norman, Asrat Asfaw, Pangirayi Bernard Tongoona, Agyemang Danquah, Eric Yirenkyi Danquah, David De Koeyer, Robert Asiedu. Pollination Success in Some White Yam Genotypes Under Polycross and Nested Mating Designs. International Journal of Biological Sciences and Applications. Vol. 5, No. 2, 2018, pp. 19-28.

    2018 - View publication details

  13. Nie, X., Dickison, V.L., Brooks, S., Nie, B., Singh, M., De Koeyer, D.L., Murphy, A.M. (2018). High resolution DNA melting assays for detection of Rx1 and Rx2 for high-throughput marker-assisted selection for extreme resistance to potato virus X in tetraploid potato. Plant Disease, [online] 102(2), 382-390. http://dx.doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-07-17-0968-RE

    2018 - View publication details

  14. Dickison V, Bizimungu B, De Koeyer D, Douglass K, Nie X. 2017. Review: Marker–assisted selection of disease traits integration into AAFC’s Potato Breeding Program. Canadian Phytopathological Society Maritime Region Meeting 2017, 23 Nov 2017, Kentville, NS.

    2017 - View publication details

  15. Nie, X., Sutherland, D., Dickison, V.L., Singh, M., Murphy, A.M., and De Koeyer, D.L. (2016). "Development and validation of high-resolution DNA melting (HRM)-based markers derived from Rysto-STS markers YES3-3A and YES3-3B for high-throughput marker-assisted selection of potatoes carrying Rysto.", 2016 Annual Meeting of the Canadian Phytopathological Society, Moncton, NB, Canada, 12-15 June, 2016, pp. 26. (Abstract)

    2016 - View publication details

  16. Nie, X., De Koeyer, D.L., Liang, Z., Dickison, V., and Singh, M. (2016). "Identification and characterization of an Alfalfa mosaic virus isolate in potatoes exhibiting internal necrosis.", Northeast Potato Technological Forum, Fredericton, NB, Canada, March 16-17, 2016, pp. 33. (Abstract)

    2016 - View publication details

  17. Yuan, J., A.M. Murphy, D. De Koeyer, U.R. Rosyara, D. Wilson, M. Lague, and B. Bizimungu. 2016. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) of disease resistant traits in cultivated potato. 100th Annual meeting of the Potato Association of America, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA July 31-August 4, 2016. Am. J. Potato Res. 94:249.

    2016 - View publication details

  18. Nie X, De Koeyer D, Murphy A, Dickison V, and Singh M. 2016. Development of HRM markers tightly linked to extreme resistance to Potato virus Y using next-generation sequencing. The 2016 American Pathological Society Annual Meeting, 30 July - 3 August, 2016, Tampa, FL, USA. Phytopathology106:S4.156-157. http://dx.doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-106-12-S4.1

    2016 - View publication details

  19. Nie X, De Koeyer D, Liang Z, Dickison V, and Singh M. 2016. Identification and characterization of an Alfalfa mosaic virus isolate in potatoes exhibiting internal necrosis. Northeast Potato Technological Forum 2016. Fredericton, NB, 16-17 March 2016. Page: 33.

    2016 - View publication details

  20. Liu, B., Zhang, G., Murphy, A., De Koeyer, D., Tai, H., Bizimungu, B., Si, H., Li, X.Q. (2016). Differences between the bud end and stem end of potatoes in dry matter content, starch granule size, and carbohydrate metabolic gene expression at the growing and sprouting stages. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, [online] 64(5), 1176-1184. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.5b05238

    2016 - View publication details

Research facility

95 Innovation Road
PO Box 20280
Fredericton, NB E3B 4Z7
Canada

Affiliations

Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University;

External Faculty Member, University of Maine

 

Language

English