Potato Review

22 POTATO REVIEW SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 BLACKLEG CONTROL A decision support tool to help growers predict the risk of blackleg and likely impact of mitigation strategies is being developed as part of a multi-institute project funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), Defra and the Scottish Government. Blackleg continues to be the main cause of seed downgrading and failure in most years, with knock-on e ects on ware growers planting contaminated seed. Estimates put the cost of losses to blackleg at around £50m/year. But research suggesting that blackleg, which is primarily caused in the UK by a bacteria Pectobacterium atrosepticum , could be soil-borne as well as seed-borne, with its severity in uenced by irrigation and free-living nematodes, has been the catalyst for a new three-year project. Research aims to develop step change in blackleg control Blackleg potentially poses a greater threat to potato growers following the loss of diquat. Mike Abram looks at a research project aiming to develop new control approaches. It could lead to a step change in how blackleg is managed, suggests James Hutton Institute’s Prof Ian Toth, one of the lead researchers for the project. “A new approach to control is desperately needed, as blackleg has become increasingly common.” at trend could be exacerbated by slower burndown after the loss of diquat for desiccation. By moving away from traditional research concentrating on seed contamination to focus more on soil and the wider environment, there are potentially multiple improvements in blackleg control that can be made, Ian believes. One such area is irrigation. “It’s well-known that if you put too much water on a potato crop you can cause more blackleg. Usually that is put down to having a contaminated seed Prof Ian Toth is one of the lead researchers for the project that is funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), Defra and the Scottish government. Blackleg has become increasingly common.

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Mzg1Mw==