Potato Review

www.potatoreview.com POTATO REVIEW JULY/AUGUST 2021 37 HEAT STRESS R ising temperatures resulting from climate change is exposingmore potato crops to the damaging extremes of heat stressmore frequently. A study of trends has shown it is temperate climates, including the UK, that are bearing the brunt of some of the extremes in weather changes. Nationally there has been a signi cant shift to higher temperatures, with the 10 hottest years on record all occurring since 2000, for example. However, analysing weather data on a more local level can indicate crops that are most at risk of heat stress, and how to adapt agronomy to cope, according to Syngenta Head of Technical, Dave King. Reaching the hot spots Syngenta experts discuss biostimulant study ndings and explain why they think product is the answer to countering heat stress. “Weather data not only highlights the areas subject to high temperatures, but the detail shows when heat stress has hit, and the duration plants were subject to its damaging e ects,” he said. “What we are seeing is that some areas, primarily in the eastern and southern counties, are getting hit year on year. However, the timing and the severity of the impacts can be signi cantly di erent each season.” Virtually all areas of the UK do experience heat stress events at some stage of the season. Growers and agronomists need to look at the frequency they occur and the intensity of the heat event to assess risk to crops, advised Dave. “Some areas, primarily in the eastern and southern counties, are getting hit year on year. However, the timing and the severity of the impacts can be significantly di erent.” Dave King ➜ Dave King, Syngenta Head of Technical. Dr Nathinee Ruta, Syngenta Global Technical & Plant Phenotyping Manager. A Quantis trial application.