Assessing blight resistant potato varieties
This field lab is testing a range of blight resistant varieties in organic systems with the aim of looking at performance, taste and building market acceptance of new varieties that could reduce input levels.
Show MoreThe fungal pathogen Phytophthora infestans causes Late blight, the single most important disease for potato growers. Arriving usually in July or August, it can decimate a crop within a couple of weeks. Late blight remains the single most important potato disease, costing the industry an estimated £50M annually (AHDB 2015).To control blight in organic systems, there are no totally effective methods.
To control blight in organic systems, there are no totally effective methods. Farmers are keen to move away from using copper due to the potential build up in the soil over prolonged use.
This field lab is examining growth, resistance, taste and yield for 11 blight resistance varieties that are all suitable for organic systems. There are three growers around the UK trialling the varieties supplied by Agrico and Savari Trust.
This field lab is including taste tests as some blight-resistant varieties have a lower quality taste (anecdotally). The usual preparation for taste tests involves boiling but here the field lab is preparing mash, and chips to see if particular varieties taste better according to preparation.
This is an introduction to the range and performance of currently available blight resistant potato varieties. We intend to conduct further and more extensive trials in 2016.
Further information on late blight can be found on the AHDB site: http://potatoes.ahdb.org.uk/knowledge-hub/publications/late-blight-publications-and-research-reports
This field lab is sponsored by The Prince of Wales's Charitable Foundation.