David De Koeyer, Ph.D.

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.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Fredericton, New Brunswick

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

Nie, X., De Koeyer, D.L., Liang, Z., Dickison, V., Singh, M., and Hawkins, G. (2015). "Identification and characterization of an Alfalfa mosaic virus isolate associated with tuber necrosis in a potato variety.", 2015 American Pathological Society Annual Meeting, Pasadena, CA, USA, August 1-6, 2015.
2015 - View publication details
Tai, H.H., Worrall, K., De Koeyer, D., Pelletier, Y., Tai, G.C.C., Calhoun, L. (2015). Colorado Potato Beetle Resistance in Solanum oplocense X Solanum tuberosum Intercross Hybrids and Metabolite Markers for Selection, 92(6), 684-696. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12230-015-9484-2
2015 - View publication details
Caraza, M., D. De Koeyer, E. Mihovilovich, M. Bonierbale, and G. Wang-Pruski. 2015. Identification of chromosomal regions in potatoes associated with tuberization traits affected by photoperiod using SNP markers. 99th Annual meeting of the Potato Association of America, Portland, Maine, USA July 19–23, 2015. Am. J. Potato Res. 93:125
2015 - View publication details
Kitazumi, A., Kawahara, Y., Onda, T.S., De Koeyer, D., De Los Reyes, B.G. (2015). Implications of miR166 and miR159 induction to the basal response mechanisms of an andigena potato (Solanum tuberosum subsp. andigena) to salinity stress, predicted from network models in Arabidopsis. Genome, [online] 58(1), 13-24. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/gen-2015-0011
2015 - View publication details
Nie, X., De Koeyer, D., Liang, Z., Dickison, V., Singh, M., Hawkins, G. (2015). Identification and first report of a potato tuber necrosis-inducing isolate of Alfalfa mosaic virus in Canada. Plant Disease, [online] 99(11), 1658. http://dx.doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-04-15-0423-PDN
2015 - View publication details
Tai, H.H., De Koeyer, D.L., Goyer, C., Nolan, L., Davidson, C.G., Sønderkær, M., Hedegaard, S., Lehman Neilsen, K., Lague, M., Murphy, A.M., Uribe, P., and Halterman, D. (2014). "Genetic analysis of tolerance and resistance to Verticillium dahliae.", 98th Annual Meeting of the Potato Association of America (PAA), The Davenport Hotel, Spokane, WA, USA, July 27-31, 2014. (Abstract)
2014 - View publication details
De Koeyer, D.L., Douglass, K., Lague, M., Bizimungu, B., Murphy, A.M., Bonierbale, M., and Mosquera, T. (2014). "Next-generation SNP genotyping platforms for characterizing potato germplasm.", in S. Dias, E. Dulloo, N. Maxted, S. Kell, E. Thörn, L. Smith, J. Preston, S. Hutchinson (eds.) - International Conference on ENHANCED GENEPOOL UTILIZATION - Capturing wild relative and landrace diversity for crop improvement, Cambridge University Press, UK, pp. 17.
2014 - View publication details
Tai, H.H., De Koeyer, D.L., Goyer, C., Nolan, L., Davidson, C., Lague, M., Murphy, A.M., Sonderkaer, M., Hedegaard, S., Halterman, D., and Lehman Neilsen, K. (2014). "Expression QTL analysis of genetic variation in potato responses to Verticillium wilt.", 11th Solanaceae Conference, Porto Seguro, Brazil, November 2-6, 2014. (Abstract)
2014 - View publication details
Zebarth, B.J., Tai, H.H., Luo, S., De Koeyer, D.L., and Li, X.-Q. (2014). "Gene expression-based diagnostics: A new way to optimize crop fertilizer nitrogen management?", 18th Nitrogen Workshop. The nitrogen challenge: Building blueprint for nitrogen use efficiency and food security, Lisbon, Portugal, June 30-July 3, 2014. (Abstract)
2014 - View publication details
Ai Kitazumi, A., Kawahara, A.Y., De Koeyer, D.L., and de los Reyes, B.G. (2014). "Integration of stress and growth-related responses by microRNAs in the Andean potato.", XXII Plant & Animal Genome Conference, Town & Country Convention Center, San Diego, CA, USA, January 10-15, 2014. (Poster)
2014 - View publication details
Tai, H.H., Worrall, K., Pelletier, Y., De Koeyer, D., Calhoun, L.A. (2014). Comparative metabolite profiling of solanum tuberosum against six wild solanum species with Colorado potato beetle resistance. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, [online] 62(36), 9043-9055. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jf502508y
2014 - View publication details
Xiang, H., Zhang, R., De Koeyer, D., Pan, G., Li, T., Liu, T., Zhou, Z. (2014). New evidence on the relationship between Microsporidia and Fungi: A genome-wide analysis by DarkHorse software. Canadian Journal of Microbiology, [online] 60(9), 557-568. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjm-2014-0209
2014 - View publication details
Peters, R.D., Al-Mughrabi, K.I., Kalischuk, M.L., Dobinson, K.F., Conn, K.L., Alkher, H., Islam, M.R., Daayf, F., Lynn, J., Bizimungu, B., De Koeyer, D., Lévesque, C.A., Kawchuk, L.M. (2014). Characterization of Phytophthora infestans population diversity in Canada reveals increased migration and genotype recombination, 36(1), 73-82. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07060661.2014.892900
2014 - View publication details
Lindqvist-Kreuze, H., Gastelo, M., Perez, W., Forbes, G.A., De Koeyer, D., Bonierbale, M. (2014). Phenotypic stability and genome-wide association study of late blight resistance in potato genotypes adapted to the tropical highlands. Phytopathology, [online] 104(6), 624-633. http://dx.doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-10-13-0270-R
2014 - View publication details
Tai, H.H., Worrall, K., Pelletier, Y., De Koeyer, D.L., and Calhoun, L.A. (2013). "Metabolites from CPB-resistant wild Solanum species.", 97th Annual Meeting of the Potato Association of America (PAA), Québec City, QC, Canada, July 28-August 2, 2013.
2013 - View publication details
Li, X.-Q., Xu, C., Liu, X., Haroon, M., Liu, J., Xie, C.Y., Meng, F., De Koeyer, D.L., Leclerc, Y., Donnelly, D.J., and Murphy, A.M. (2013). "Identification of the major enzyme and genes controlling cold sweetening in potato tubers during storage.", 97th Annual Meeting of the Potato Association of America (PAA), Québec City, QC, Canada, July 28-August 2, 2013, Oral presentation.
2013 - View publication details
Goyer, C., Tai, H.H., Gustafson, V., De Koeyer, D.L., and Rothwell, C. (2013). "Analysis of gene expression of two potato cultivars during common scab infection using microarrays.", 97th Annual Meeting of the Potato Association of America (PAA), Québec City, QC, Canada, July 28-August 2, 2013.
2013 - View publication details
Caraza, M., De Koeyer, D.L., Mihovilovich, E,, Bonierbale, M., and Wang-Pruski, G. (2013). "Identification of candidate genes associated with photoperiod for improving adaptation of potatoes to diverse environments.", 9th Canadian Plant Genomics Workshop, Halifax, NS, Canada, August 12-15, 2013.
2013 - View publication details
Tai, H.H., De Koeyer, D.L., Goyer, C., Sønderkær, M., Hedegaard, S., Nolan, L., Laguë, M., Murphy, A.M., and Nielsen, K.L. (2013). "Analysis of genetic variation in gene expression associated with Verticillium dahliae infection in potato.", 10th Solanaceae Conference, Beijing, China, October 13-17, 2013.
2013 - View publication details
Mihovilovich, E,, De Koeyer, D.L., and Bonierbale, M. (2013). "Response of short day-length adapted potato breeding lines to long photoperiod.", 97th Annual Meeting of the Potato Association of America (PAA), Québec City, QC, Canada, July 28-August 2, 2013.
2013 - View publication details