Improving potato seed health using molecular diagnostics to help sustain future competitiveness of the UK potato industry

Summary

This involved the development of diagnostics for four diseases, namely dry rot (Fusarium spp.), gangrene (Phoma foveata), watery wound rot (Pythium ultimum), and pink rot (Phytophthora erythroseptica). The work was undertaken by the James Hutton Institute (formerly SCRI), in collaboration with the Central Science Laboratory and Higgins Agriculture Ltd, with industry funding provided by the AHDB Potatoes and Higgins Agriculture Ltd.

The diagnostic tools were used to study the relationship between tuber contamination by Fusariumspp. and disease development during storage, the relationship between field infestation and tuber contamination, and the effects of fungicide treatment on tuber contamination.

Sector:
Potatoes
Project code:
807/200
Date:
01 July 1999 - 31 May 2003
Funders:
AHDB Potatoes, Higgins Agriculture Ltd
Project leader:
Ian Toth

About this project

To enhance the health of UK seed potatoes by developing PCR diagnostic tools to monitor the incidence of fungal storage rot pathogens on potato stocks.

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