Potato Review

Traps target late blight A NETWORK of spore traps in parts of Idaho, Washington and Oregon will mostly focus on late blight in potatoes while continuing to monitor for early blight in some areas. Researchers this year have also made some improvements to the sensitivity of the early blight test. 50 POTATO REVIEW JULY/AUGUST 2021 INTERNATIONAL Extended deregulation of US variety THE US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is extending deregulation to J.R. Simplot company’s BB #:135507 potato variety, developed using genetic engineering, designated as Snowden Z6 (Z6 potato). The potato variety is engineered for late blight protection, lowered reducing sugars, low acrylamide potential and reduced black spot bruising. APHIS previously reviewed and deregulated these traits in another Simplot potato variety, referred to as Innate W8 Russet Burbank potato (W8 potato). APHIS reviewed Simplot’s extension request for its Z6 potato variety and prepared a Plant Pest Risk Similarity Assessment (PPRSA) and preliminary determination of nonregulated status, concluding Z6 potatoes are not more likely to pose a plant pest risk than the previously deregulated W8 potatoes. APHIS reached a Record of Categorical Exclusion Determination based on its similarity assessment. APHIS made the PPRSA and preliminary determination available for a 30-day public review and comment period on June 25, 2020. After considering the public comments, APHIS has determined Z6 potato is unlikely to post a plant pest risk and is extending deregulation to the Z6 potato line. 2022 completion date for processing plant CONSTRUCTION on a Russian plant for the production of French Fries is due to be complete by the end of next year. McCain has begun construction on the plant in the Tula region which will process more than 200 thousand tons of potatoes and produce more than 100 thousand tons of finished products. The construction is planned to be completed by the end of 2022 with investments in the project amounting to 12.7 billion rubles. Huge price rises revealed PRICES FOR potatoes in Russia have risen sharply over the past year, a report by East Fruit reveals. Analyses of wholesale prices at the end of May 2021 showed they rose by an average of 2.5 times. Early potatoes, which cost an average of one and a half times more than the old potatoes, were imported from Egypt and Central Asian countries. This year, the young potatoes can be bought on average 10% cheaper than a year earlier.