Potato cyst nematodes (PCN) are a major pest to potatoes. There are two main species, Globodera rostochiensis and Globodera pallida. PCN live in the soil and feed on potato roots which negatively affects potato yields and quality. Land infested with PCN is becoming more widespread throughout Scotland, the UK and abroad.
A large working group with a range of potato industry, government and academic backgrounds was set up to identify a strategy and key recommendations for dealing with PCN. As a result of the work done by this group, the Scottish Government awarded funding for a fully integrated 5 year project of scientific research and knowledge exchange with an aim to deliver a sustainable potato and bulb industry for Scotland through the management of PCN.
The project is led by the Plant Health Centre and involves a range of academics and industry including The James Hutton Institute (JHI), SRUC, SoilEssentials, Scottish Agronomy and SASA who are all working together to deliver the aim.
To meet the aim the main areas of focus are:
- Economics: determining the cost of PCN and the economic risks if not managed
- Decision Support System: a digital platform to help growers make informed choices on PCN management
- Resistance markers: identifying molecular markers for resistance to PCN
- Accelerated Breeding: Techniques such as dihaploid induction will be used to combine different traits to breed plants with resistance against PCN
- Tolerance to PCN: Exploring how tolerance works at a genetic level which will help breeders produce more tolerant varieties.
- Groundkeeper control: Developing better methods for locating and controlling groundkeepers (volunteer potato plants)
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Integrated approach for the best way to manage pests like PCN including assessing the contribution options such as traps crops, and chitin compost can make to PCN control
- Knowledge Exchange: Outputs of the project will be brought together and delivered to stakeholders through a national communication programme
SoilEssentials are leading alongside JHI on the Decision Support System, in developing a digital platform that will help growers, agronomists and landowners make informed decisions on how best to manage PCN by providing different options specific to their situation and reducing risks by highlighting the implications of different approaches. There have been numerous workshops with growers, scientists etc to collate their requirements and review of existing PCN models to determine essential elements and outputs from a decision support system.
The other main area of focus for SoilEssentials is Groundkeeper control and using precision methods to detect and control groundkeepers. The technology will be monitored, developed and adapted throughout the project. Our SKAi system is to be utilised on this aim of the project and this year will focus on image acquisition of groundkeepers in broccoli.
For the latest information on the project visit: PCN Action Scotland Website
Project Coverage: Farmer’s Weekly | BBC News | The One Show | Potato News Today