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North American edition | 1-2019 What's to come TPP battle Breeding a in 2019? ongoing in NZ super potato New wireworm Soil health The beauty of control solution and diseases small potatoes
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Editorial
D
ear potato folks,
It is with great pleasure that we present you with
the second issue of Global Potato News. We were
humbled by the numerous messages of goodwill and
congratulations we received from around the interna-
tional potato industry after publication of the launch
issue of the magazine late last year – thank you all for
your kind and well-meant support!
A sincere word of thanks to each and everyone of the Lukie Pieterse
many sources around the world with whom we com-
municated when compiling the editorial content for this issue. Your enthusi-
asm and commitment to your work in the potato industry are no doubt inspi-
rational, and I thank you kindly for spending valuable time to supply me with
the information that we present to our readers in this issue of Global Potato
News.
Here we are at the start of a new year, and for many of our grower readers the
start of a new growing season. 2018 was the year we could no longer pretend
climate change wasn't happening. No matter how much or how little atten-
tion you pay to climate change, there seem to be more and more moments
lately when it becomes impossible to ignore the harsh reality of what we're
facing. 2018 was no exception. The realization that 2018 marks 30 years since
climate change became big news was certainly not a pleasant one. And cer-
tainly not for so many potato growers in especially Europe and parts of North
America who experienced near unimaginable harsh climatic conditions the
past growing season.
We realize that many of you are preparing for the 2019 season with a sense
of uncertainly and perhaps even trepidation, since you are not sure what this
season might bring as far as the climate is concerned. We wish you well. And
the same goes for those folks involved in many sectors of our industry who are
directly and indirectly affected by what is happening on potato farms around
the world, including the processing sector, traders, dealers and many more.
To our readers: My hope is that you find the information in this issue of Global
Potato News of value and worth the time that you will spend reading it! Please
do not hesitate to get in touch with me if you wish to contribute information
for the next issue of the magazine, or if you want to comment on any of the
articles here. You can always reach me at lukie@globalpotatonews.com, or at
my Twitter handle @potatonewstoday.
Kind wishes and spud greetings!
Lukie Pieterse
Editor in Chief
1
Content
Seed
Why physiological age of potato seed tubers counts������ 4
Diseases
Water molds and bacterial diseases of potato tubers����� 6
Post-harvest treatment of common potato diseases������ 8
Venezuelans’ struggle to rescue the ancestral
Andean potato����������������������������������������������������������������� 12
6
The push to eradicate PCN from infected
potato fields in Japan����������������������������������������������������� 13
Opinion Water molds and
2019 set to be another challenging year for potato bacterial diseases
growers���������������������������������������������������������������������������� 10
Varieties
Researchers reflect on 30 years of
potato breeding in South Africa������������������������������������� 14
Pest Management
Eco-efficient capsules to revolutionize
pest control in potato crops������������������������������������������� 16
14
NZ potato industry get smart in the Tomato
Potato Psyllid battle�������������������������������������������������������� 25
Soil Breeding in South Africa
The advent of the ‘Google of Soil’����������������������������������� 18
Researchers to dig into soil health and
soil-borne diseases��������������������������������������������������������� 19
Processing Technology
Pulsemaster: Novel applications for
potato processing����������������������������������������������������������� 20
Global Statistics
25
US dollar values for global potato exports�������������������� 22
Potato Psyllid battle
2 ISSUE 1 | 2019
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Retail Market
The beauty of small potatoes: Canadian company Publisher
launches new mini potato line��������������������������������������� 24
Consumer Focus Erling Verlag GmbH & Co. KG
Four ways to increase the value of potatoes������������������ 28 Klein Sachau 4
D-29459 Clenze, Germany
mail@erling-verlag.com
www.erling-verlag.com
News
World Potato Congress launches Webinar Series���������� 29 Bank account
Account name: Erling Verlag
Retail potato sales in the US increased to
Bank name: Commerzbank Lüchow
$11.6 billion in 2018��������������������������������������������������������� 29 IBAN/SEPA: DE57 2584 1403 0549 0313 00
New pest and disease control products in the SWIFT/BIC: COBADEFF244
pipeline for Canadian growers��������������������������������������� 29
Australian update������������������������������������������������������������ 30 Editor in chief
Canadian potato growers scramble to save Lukie Pieterse
mancozeb from Health Canada onslaught��������������������� 30 +1 (902) 67 9-85 55
lukie@globalpotatonews.com
Tong unveils new field- and packhouse solutions��������� 31
Potato peels to become the hot new
building material?����������������������������������������������������������� 32 Editorial Advisors (alphabetical order)
Dr Khalil Al-Muhrabi (Canada)
Potatoes New Zealand continues
Dr Eugenia Banks (Canada)
work after potato mop-top virus find������������������������������������32
Francois-Xavier Broutin (France)
Kettles’s chip bags track potatoes back Chris Claridge (New Zealand)
to farm of origin��������������������������������������������������������������� 33 Rob Clayton (UK)
Peruvians are breeding a super potato�������������������������� 33 Romain Cools (Belgium)
Potato scientists unravel genetics of Victor Henriquez (Chile)
tuber skin and flesh colour��������������������������������������������� 33 Raquel Izquierdo de Santiago (Europatat)
Dr Marcelo Huarte (Argentina)
Frank Mulcahy (Australia)
Dr Nora Olsen (USA)
Victor Phaff (The Netherlands)
Dr Andrew Robinson (USA)
Jang Bahadur Singh Sangha (India)
Natalino Shimoyama (Brazil)
Prof Jacquie vanderWaals (South Africa)
Next Issue in May 2019
Art-director
Publication date is: 12.5.2019 Helge Putzier
Publishers deadline: 15.4.2019 artwork@globalpotatonews.com
– The latest developments in planting technologies Advertising Sales
– The importance of potato seed in successful pro- Samuel Mignot | +44 7484343372
duction samuel@globalpotatonews.com
– Emerging pests and diseases around the world
– Latest research breakthroughs Gladwyn Nickel | +1 (877) 878-4077
– The impact of climate change on global potato gladwyn@globalpotatonews.com
production
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Seed
Why physiological age of potato
seed tubers counts
Physiological age is an important concept in potato production. The
physiological age of seed tubers determines when the buds will sprout and how
many sprouts will develop from those buds. It affects stem numbers and vine
growth. It also influences tuber development and can have a significant impact
on tuber yield and size distribution.
W
hat is physiological age? Physiological age differs Older seed tubers are characterized by a loss of apical do-
from chronological age. Chronological age is the minance. They produce multiple sprouts that emerge soo-
number of days since the tuber was formed. Phy- ner. This means more stems and more tubers, but the tu-
siological age refers to the internal age of a tuber as it is bers are smaller.
affected by biochemical changes within.
Yield and size distribution
Like chronological age, physiological age advances with Older seed tends to produce less foliage and reaches matu-
time. But it’s also affected by genetics (e.g., cultivar traits) rity earlier than young seed. It has a higher yield potential
and environmental stresses. when harvest is early and may be preferred where a smaller
tuber profile is desired.
The same concepts are used to understand aging in hu-
mans. Some people seem much younger – or older – than Planting older seed can be very helpful when growing cul-
they really are. Genetics are largely responsible for how we tivars that tend to produce over-sized tubers, like ‘Yukon
age, but lifestyle choices can have an important impact too. Gold’ or ‘Shepody.’
Stress accelerates aging Younger seed emerges more slowly but produces a more
Plants respire to release the energy they need to keep cells vigorous plant with a longer duration of tuber bulking and
functioning – starch and sugars are consumed to produce delayed maturity. It is generally preferred for russet pro-
energy (it’s basically the reverse of photosynthesis). duction, where larger tuber sizes and high bulk yields are
desired.
When plants are stressed, they respire more. Any conditi-
ons that increase respiration rates will accelerate the aging But growers should monitor the crop closely near the end
process in tubers. This includes temperature extremes, mo- of the season and time vine kill to limit the production of
isture stress, nutrient deficiencies, pest injury, and rough over-sized tubers.
handling during harvest. Stresses encountered at any time
during the life of a tuber can speed up aging; but many stu- Older seed has a lower potential for high yields over a long
dies have shown that growing conditions have a smaller ef- growing season – but a grower can intercede with nitrogen
fect on physiological age than postharvest conditions. management.
Stem numbers and tuber set Adding nitrogen fertilizer can partially overcome the effects
Physiologically, young seed is characterized by one domi- of aging and delay the onset of senescence. Nitrogen can
nant bud that suppresses sprouting of the other buds on mimic the characteristics of young seed because it has a
the tuber. This phenomenon in plants is called apical do- strong effect on the plant hormones that regulate the aging
minance – an adaptation that encourages upward growth process. But, there is still a danger of early senescence if the
rather than branching. In potato tubers, the result is a plant crop is stressed or nitrogen levels are allowed to drop too
with fewer stems and fewer but larger tubers. soon.
4 ISSUE 1 | 2019
Potato sprouts on a physiological
mature potato tuber
How to manipulate physiological age should be large enough to represent variability within the
If your seed is physiologically young and you are concer- seed lot.
ned that stem numbers will be too low, you can increase
the temperature in storage to age the seed or you can delay Several weeks before your intended planting date, cut the
planting. seed tubers into seed pieces (if you will be planting cut
seed), and then put them in mesh bags or plant them in
If your seed is physiologically old and will produce too soil. Temperature should be maintained at 50˚F to 55˚F.
many stems, you should maintain ideal storage conditions Then note how quickly they sprout, how fast they grow, and
to minimize further aging and plant the seed as soon as how many sprouts form.
field conditions permit.
Some growers in the US have reported success in decrea-
sing stem numbers on aged seed by applying Rejuvenate
(Amvac), a seed treatment that contains a synthetic plant Author
Carrie Huffman Wohleb is Associate
hormone that helps to restore apical dominance. Results
Professor/Regional Specialist – Po-
can vary depending on the cultivar and other conditions. tato, Vegetable, and Seed Crops, at
Washington State University. This
How to estimate your seed tuber’s age article was first published in Ameri-
The most practical way to estimate the physiological age can Vegetable Grower, 2018.
of seed tubers in storage is to collect a sample and ob- Online: GrowingProduce.com
serve sprouting activity following warming. The sample
5
Diseases
Water molds and bacterial
diseases of potato tubers
While every growing season typically offers a few hiccups in the weather, some
years offer a few more extreme disruptions than normal. Extreme temperatures,
in concert with moisture stress, exacerbate crop stress which may not be evident
immediately following an intense weather event – but can reveal itself at time of
harvest and beyond.
W
hen test digs turn up evidence of pink eye, enlar- Phytophthora nicotianae was documented in commercial
ged lenticels, or other physiological abnormal- potatoes in several fields of Wisconsin, as well as other
ities, it’s good to be watchful for early evidence North American growing regions in 2018. While we have
of disease. These data aid in making the best, prescriptive not yet detected this pathogen on tubers during test digs
decisions on late season crop treatment, harvest date, and or post-harvest, it can cause tuber symptoms very similar
any necessary special handling, as well as storage and mar- to pink rot.
ket considerations.
Tuber symptoms caused by late blight
Some of the most common and problematic potato tuber Late blight, caused by another fungal-like pathogen Phy-
diseases in storages include diseases caused by fungi such tophthora infestans, produces tuber symptoms that can
as silver scurf and Fusarium dry rot, and diseases caused
by fungus-like or “water mold” pathogens such as pink
Pink rot
rot, late blight, and Pythium leak. Bacterial soft rot should
not go without mention.
Each disease is promoted by slightly different environ-
mental conditions and each has key diagnostic features
on tubers.
Highlighted in this article are the water molds and bacte-
rial diseases of tubers.
Pink rot
Phytophthora erythroseptica, the fungal-like pathogen
causing pink rot, often causes tuber symptoms initiating
from the stolon end which appear rubbery, yet firm. The
infected areas of tubers are often delimited by a dark line
visible through the skin. Buds, lenticels, and underlying
tissue are black and usually exude a clear liquid.
When cut and exposed to air, pink rot infections turn
pink-salmon in color after about 30 minutes. Pink rot is
favored by high soil moisture which promote open lenti-
cels and temperatures around 77 °F. Planting in well-drai-
ned fields with no history of pink rot, avoiding wounding
at harvest and bin filling, and lowering temperature and
humidity in storage can aid in management.
6 ISSUE 1 | 2019
Diseases
from late season infection following wounding or damage
at- or post-harvest.
Although disease symptoms are often indistinguishable
between Pectobacterium and Dickeya spp., Dickeya spp.
appear to require lower inoculum levels in order to start
disease, have ability to spread through the plant’s vascu-
lar tissue better than Pectobacterium, are more aggressi-
ve, and require higher optimal temperatures for disease.
Symptoms caused by Dickeya spp. tend to develop when
temperatures exceed 25 °C (77 ºF), while Pectobacterium
predominate below 25 °C.
Tuber soft rot ranges from a slight vascular discoloration
Late blight tuber internal
to complete decay. Affected tuber tissue is cream to tan
in color and is soft and granular. Brown to black pigments
often develop at the margins of decayed tissue.
be both superficial and visible externally as dark brown to
purple lesions and present in the interior as brown, dry, Lesions usually first develop in lenticels, at the site of sto-
and granular lesions. lon attachment or in wounds. Dickeya spp., particularly
at temperatures of >27 °C (80 °F), cause more severe rots
This disease is favored by temperatures from 64 to 75 °F than P. atrosepticum and are more likely to produce a
and high relative humidity. Use of protectant fungicides creamier, cheesy rot.
in the production field while foliage is still viable is recom-
mended. The use of fungicides with some systemic activi- Management strategies
ty can aid in management. While nature can be uncooperative in helping to limit
post-harvest disease, there are cultural approaches and che-
Pythium leak mical tools available to mitigate infection and spread. Strong
Pythium leak, caused by the fungal-like pathogen Pythium disease control programs during the production season are
ultimum, produces tuber symptoms that begin as light tan, the best post-harvest storage disease control programs.
water-soaked areas around a wound. As disease progres-
ses, tissues can swell and periderm discolors with a dark Harvest temperatures should optimally fall between 12–
line separating diseased tissue from healthy. Internally, 18 °C (or roughly 54–64 °F) and soil moisture should be
the tissue is spongy and wet and may contain cavities. adequate to minimize damage.
When squeezed, tubers infected by Pythium ultimum exu- Care should be taken to minimize drops and subsequent
de a watery liquid. Over time, affected tubers in storage bruising which can become sites for post-harvest infection.
appear as empty, papery skins. This disease is favored by
high temperatures, 77–86 °F. Avoiding harvesting in hot, Once in storage, maintenance of good air movement,
dry weather and enhancing post-harvest conditions to along with temperature and humidity appropriate to the
promote wound healing can help manage Pythium leak. variety, market type, quality status, and disease condition
for optimum conditioning are critical.
Tuber soft rot
Bacterial tuber soft rot can be caused by Pectobacterium
spp., and more recently in the U.S., Dickeya spp. Dickeya Author
Amanda J. Gevens, Extension Ve-
dianthicola was confirmed in the eastern U.S. in just 2015.
getable Pathologist, Associate Pro-
Seed infection can lead to blackleg symptoms including
fessor, UW-Madison, Dept. of Plant
poor emergence, chlorosis, wilting, stem rot, and darke- Pathology, 608-890-3072 (office),
ned slimy, black stems. Email: gevens@wisc.edu
Vegetable Pathology website –
Tuber infection can occur from movement of the bacterial https://wivegdis.wiscweb.wisc.edu
pathogen within a plant infected from seed, or it can occur
7
Diseases
Post-harvest treatment of
common potato diseases
Despite best efforts at integrated disease management in the production field,
the condition of tubers making their way to storage may require additional
inputs to maintain quality in short and long term. In this article, I am addressing
treatments of a few of the most common potato diseases that growers can apply
at harvest or post-harvest during the storage of the harvested crop.
Water Molds
Water molds are not true fungi, and only certain fungi- acid treatment cannot reverse the effects of field-infected
cides are effective in controlling pink rot, leak, and late tubers, but it can limit the spread of disease during hand-
blight. In the past, single-site mode of action metalaxyl or ling and storage.
mefenoxam fungicides (such as Ridomil) were very effec-
tive at limiting water molds. Field-applied phosphorous acid application has also been
shown to provide residual control of pink rot to approxi-
Metalaxyl and mefenoxam resistance in P. erythroseptica mately 90 days after harvest. In our UW inoculated storage
and infestans has been documented in various regions trial, phosphorous acid (Phostrol) applied at bin-filling at
of the U.S. Recently, a fungicide resistance evaluation of rates of both 6.4 and 12.8 fl oz/ton significantly limited
P. erythroseptica isolated from tubers in storage in Wis- pink rot incidence and severity at approximately 30 and
consin indicated that a portion of the isolates collected 60 days post treatment.
(~25 %) were resistant to mefenoxam.
Phostrol at both rates also significantly limited late
Phosphorous acid blight in a separate UW inoculated study. Stadium (Syn-
Applications of phosphorous acid (H3PO3) on tubers ent- genta; active ingredients fludioxonil, difenoconazole,
ering storage or applied to foliage (2-3 applications) can azoxystrobin) has demonstrated excellent control of late
significantly limit late blight and/or pink rot. Phosphorous blight when applied at bin-filling due to the azoxystrobin
component.
Bacterial soft rot symptoms
Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide studies carried out by the Idaho re-
search team showed that application immediately fol-
lowing inoculation provided nearly 30 % disease control
when compared to untreated controls. However, when tu-
bers were infected in the field and were treated post har-
vest, hydrogen peroxide did not provide adequate disease
control.
Our UW hydrogen peroxide study on pink rot control resul-
ted in disease incidence and severity results that were not
significantly different from our untreated control.
Bacterial soft rot late season and post-
harvest management
• Delay harvest up to 21 days post vine-kill to ensure com-
plete skin set.
8 ISSUE 1 | 2019Diseases
Pink eye
• Avoid wet soil conditions at harvest to prevent soil from Under some circumstances, for instance when tubers
sticking to tuber skins. come out of the field in excellent condition and field his-
• Minimize cuts and bruises at harvest. tory includes little to no disease concern, additional tu-
• If soft rot is present in a portion of the field, this part of ber dampness may be unacceptable and seen as a bin risk
the field should not be harvested. If infected tubers are that outweighs any fungicidal benefit.
stored, store them separately.
• Harvesting equipment should be sanitized between In other circumstances, tubers may come out looking
lots. rough or with harvest damage, and field history includes
• Provide adequate ventilation to reduce conditions fa- pink rot or late blight. A scenario such as this may bene-
vorable to bacterial infection. Check stored tubers re- fit from a post-harvest fungicide and resulting dampness
gularly for temperature increase and odors. Spot treat should be mitigated by appropriate ventilation and tem-
problem areas to minimize spread. perature control.
• Reduce bacterial load on tubers as they enter storage
and once in storage through use of post-harvest treat- The 3 sides of the disease triangle
ments such as chlorine dioxide, hydrogen dioxide, or Inoculum, favorable disease conditions, and susceptible
ozone. tubers provide the 3 sides of the disease triangle. Avoiding
• Dry potatoes before storage or shipping. or reducing inoculum on tubers as they enter storage will
help considerably in preventing tuber infection in the bin.
When to make fungicide applications to
potato tubers post-harvest Free water, high CO2, and warm storage temperatures will
The decision to make fungicide applications to potato tu- promote disease development in storage. However, 2 of
bers post-harvest is not trivial. The addition of water to these 3 attributes are necessary in wound healing!
the pile, even in small volumes necessary for effectively
carrying fungicides may create an environment favorable The condition of the tubers themselves influences their
to disease under certain conditions (limited airflow, field susceptibility to infection by storage pathogens.
heat interacting with cool storage condition).
Key management factors
Typically, post-harvest fungicides are applied in ≤ 0.5 gal In summary, management tactics such as segregation of
water/ton (2000 lb) of potatoes. At this spray volume, an tubers from wet field areas, fungicide application in the
evenly emitted liquid will leave tubers appearing slightly field, harvest management (temperature, moisture, hand-
dampened. If tubers appear slick or shiny with wetness, ling), post-harvest fungicides, and storage management,
the spray volume is likely greater than 0.5 gal/ton or the are crucial to successful storage of potatoes.
emitter may not be properly functioning. Amanda J. Gevens
9Opinion
Nigel Haith:
2019 set to be another challenging
year for potato growers
With political uncertainty, regulatory change and extreme weather, 2018 has
been a challenging a year for British growers and farmers. One of the UK’s
leading vegetable handling equipment suppliers is warning farmers to expect
2019 to be as equally unpredictable.
N
igel Haith, managing director of Haith Group, belie- tion. Today, the company
ves the weather next year will continue to test potato is just as committed to
growers, but his company is taking note of changing improvement and inno-
environmental conditions and ensuring design improve- vation as it was eight ye-
ments for 2019 models make them best placed to cope. ars ago.
“Looking back at this year and the weather has been an “With such unpredictable
obvious and significant issue,” says Mr Haith. “If long, hot weather on the horizon,
summers become the norm then as an industry, we will we’ve looked at how we
have to adapt. Lifting potatoes in damp soil has benefits. can give operators of our
The soil protects the crop from bruising as it passes through machines as much cont-
the process. Scotland has enjoyed wetter weather, making rol as possible,” says Mr
the harvest easier. England though has not fared so well Haith. So, all of the belts Nigel Haith
this year, and hard soils have caused problems. That’s why on our graders feature in-
we’ve been encouraging people to run their machines a litt- verter speed control, and every setting can be saved using
le slower than normal when the soil has been harder. the HMI controls, so operators can ensure their machine is
running at precisely the right speed.”
“We’re pleased to be able to say that growers using our
machines have benefited from our design considerations. Haith’s innovative thinking is also evident in the Vertifill
We ensure there are minimal drops between our machi- Pro, which was introduced in the spring of 2018. “Most
nes, which protects the crop and prevents potatoes brui- bruising is caused when the first potatoes drop into the
sing through falling. We remove any conveyor belt sup- bottom of the box,” says Nigel. “This situation has been
ports or rollers situated at the transfer point which allows eliminated with the Haith pro-fill range, which uses a spe-
the belt to flex, absorbing the shock when potatoes fall on cially designed flighted belt which allows the tubers to roll
it preventing bruising. gently rather than fall off the elevator. We’ve also made it
possible for the height to be changed, to ensure the lowest
“We’ve also looked carefully at every touch point between gap between the bottom of the box and the filling eleva-
our machines and the potatoes to ensure we protect the tor. We believe the HMI touchscreen control and high-ef-
crop as much as possible. So, for example, we prevent ficiency drives make this the gentlest and user-friendly
scuffing by covering the steel sides on our conveyors with filler on the market.”
nylon skirting. It’s this attention to detail that makes all
the difference.” The company’s innovation strategy is also considering the
environment and rising energy costs. Haith’s use of high
In 2010 Haith Group was recognised for its forward-thin- efficiency motors are reducing running costs, and further
king nature and received the Queen’s Award for Innova- enhancements are in the offing for 2019.
10 ISSUE 1 | 2019Opinion
Minimising downtime is another area in which Haith has chinery manufacturers. Farmers have relied on Diquat to
innovated and will continue to develop over the next twel- kill the haulm and stop tubers from bulking when they’ve
ve months. Haith’s in-built monitoring technology will be reached the desired market size.
extended, meaning that operators are warned of potential
issues, such as motors being overloaded or bearing wear “Diquat has given potato growers a degree of uniformity in
before they affect the smooth running of the machine. their crop, which has given packers and farmers grading their
crop a fairly straight-forward job. Banning Diquat could see
Mr Haith thinks that 2019 will be shaped by political decisi- potato crops become unpredictable and more challenging
ons, not just in Europe but in the United States of America, to lift and handle. I think, we will be working even harder to
where the country’s relationship with Mexico, is expected improve further the way we offer programmable settings and
to see a significant impact on the manual labour market. adjustable memory features on our machines to allow users
to quickly change the configuration depending on what they
“North American farmers are going to have to invest in auto- find when they start lifting,” Mr Haith says.
mation if the labour pool shrinks as people expect it to. For
a long time, it has been Mexican workers who’ve helped with While the weather and the UK’s departure from the Euro-
the harvest. If there are fewer people available to help during pean Union will have an impact on Haith’s customers and
harvest, labour costs will rise, and we expect farmers to look its export market, Haith is planning to continue its focus
at alternative ways of harvesting, and that means automa- on the areas that have allowed it to be so successful so far.
tion. We’ve been busy this year laying the foundations for in-
creasing our presence in North America and Canada, where “In terms of our future plans, we will continue to do what
we expect to see a lot of interest in our machines.” we’ve always done – listen to our customers and develop
solutions that overcome their problems,” concludes Nigel.
Closer to home and the possible removal of Diquat could For more information about the Haith Group and its pro-
impact on potato crops and have knock-on effects for ma- ducts, please visit www.haith.co.uk
The 2018 season was marked by extreme heat, dry conditions and generally adverse conditions in many countries on mainland
Europe, as well as the UK, Ireland and in parts of North America. Growers everywhere are hoping for better growing conditions
during the 2019 season
11Diseases
Venezuelans’ struggle to rescue
the ancestral Andean potato
The seventh “EcoFestival of the Native Potato Seed” came to an end in early January
this year. This annual event highlights the struggle for the rescue of the ancestral
potato and other Andean produce, in favor of food sovereignty in Venezuela. The
EcoFestival of the Native Potato Seed is an annual event, held for the last seven years
in the Venezuelan Andean community of Gavidia, in Merida State.
T
his event showcases the many accomplishments
made in research, production and organization
around native potato seeds and other Andean tu-
bers; demonstrating the great social and productive po-
tential of this products while inciting interest and increa-
sed participation despite having to challenge the deeply
rooted stigmas designed to facilitate the cultural imposi-
tion of foreign seeds.
Economic crisis strains food supply
The economic crisis that has accompanied falling oil prices
as well as strangling US and Canadian economic sanctions
have severely limited Venezuela’s capacity to import many
food items which the country has grown to depend on over
Credits: SEEDMAP
the last century since oil has become the number one pro-
duct for exportation.
The response to this situation, by the majority of Chavis-
mo, has been a push to increase national agricultural pro- A sample of the 14 different varieties of indigenious Andean
duction. However, the agricultural industry has also been potatoes grown by Natividad Colque in Bolivia
affected by a lowered capacity for imports, as most produc-
tion still depends on the importation of foreign commercial vidia has already taken steps forward with their active orga-
seeds and other agricultural inputs. nization around the native potato seed.
Often, the small amount of these products that the govern- Research has shown that the conservation and reproduc-
ment does manage to import makes its way into illegal tion of the native potato has an important role in soil con-
smuggling networks where they are sold at very high prices servation. These potatoes also possess an extended storage
which most farmers cannot afford to pay for. These practi- life, as well as exceptionally high nutritional content for hu-
ces further limit the national capacity for production as well man and animal consumption, and offer many possibilities
as driving up the general prices of food. for the production of derivatives of a value-added nature.
Challenges ahead to secure the future of There remain tremendous challenges and years of work
native potato varieties ahead before these native varieties can eventually substi-
The clear challenge in Venezuela, apart from the struggle tute imported seeds, but the Andean communities have de-
against networks of smuggling and price speculation, is monstrated that they have the drive and patience to push
to establish a different agricultural model, which does not forward what could be a fundamental contribution to na-
depend on foreign imports. The Andean community of Ga- tional food sovereignty.
12 ISSUE 1 | 2019Diseases
The push to eradicate PCN from
infected potato fields in Japan
I
n August 2015, the first case of potato ‘white’ cyst nema- was detected are located near an important river in this
tode Globodera pallida (G. pallida) was detected in the city. In consideration of this, a new method of eradication
Northeastern parts of Hokkaido, Abashiri. This region in is now under consideration. Granular nematicides – of
Japan is famous for its starch potato fields and is a conten- which Nemathorin (fostiazete) and Nemakick (imicyafos)
der for being the area where the most potatoes are grown are available in Japan – are applied to infected fields that
with the highest yield, as well as the largest volume of po- are located within 500 meters from the river, instead of
tatoes are shipped from within Japan. Potato yellow cyst the strategy of 1,3-Dichloropropene application in com-
nematode Globodera rostochiensis (G. rostochiensis) was bination with cover crops. In addition, appropriate crop
also detected in this region. rotations and the introduction of resistant potato varieties
are done continuously.
Since September 2015, soil inspection and tuber sampling
inspection services were launched and implemented re- The successful management of PCN has two crucial chal-
peatedly in the region. The sampling inspection routine lenges in Japan, namely to find a balance between com-
is to obtain samples from a potato variety resistant to G. plete and efficient eradication of G. pallida and an envi-
rostochiensis is sampled, and then visually inspect any ronmentally responsible way to this, while being done
cysts clinging to roots. As a result of these inspections, G. with the understanding and collaboration of all stakehol-
pallida was confirmed in 163 fields on 681ha (more than ders involved.
10 % of the inspected fields). Moreover, it’s been confir-
med that approximately 10 years have passed since the Sources: Press release, related government regulations,
first G. pallida nematodes first infested the fields. and minutes of a recent review meeting arranged by the
Japanese Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
In September 2016, an emergency control inspection was
conducted based on plant protection law. The aim was to
ensure complete eradication of this pest. Any transpor- Author
tation and planting of potatoes in the affected area were Mariko Kihira, owner of the consulting company
prohibited. Since no potato variety resistant to G. pallida maru communicate. She can be reached at
had been introduced to Japan, application of 1,3-Dichlo- info@marucommunicate.com
ropropene and planting cover crops (tomato wild species;
Solanum peruvianum L.) were the solutions chosen to en-
sure eradication of the pest.
In 2018, 1,3-Dichloropropene was applied to 68 fields on
284 ha and cover crops were planted in 79 fields on 265
ha. In 28 fields (131ha), the eradication strategy was in es-
sence “twice application of 1,3-Dichloropropene and one
cover crop planted”, or “one application of 1,3-Dichloro-
propene and two cover crops planted in succession”.
1,3-Dichloropropene is not approved in Europe and ot-
her countries. Although 1,3-Dichloropropene is approved
in Japan, the application of 1,3-Dichloropropene has its
challenges, including a safe method of disposal.
Abashiri is a famous fishery city for amongst others, sal-
mon fishing. Some of the potato fields where G. pallida Potato production in Japan
13Varieties
Researchers reflect on 30 years of
potato breeding in South Africa
Potato production has a rich history in the Republic of South Africa (RSA). The
first breeding programme in that country was initiated by the late Dr JE van der
Plank back in 1950. Over the years, the focus of the breeding programme shifted
from seed security and virus resistance in the 1950’s, to good yield and skin finish
characteristics as the primary focus.
T
he bulk of South Africa’s potato output is done by ab-
out 530 large commercial producers on approxima-
tely 55 000 hectares. A small percentage of the total
production comes from small-scale farm holders, estima-
ted to be less than 500 hectares. The drive of the RSA go-
vernment is to get small-scale farmers much more involved
in potato production and by this means increase household
food security and also income.
Going forward the potato breeding programme in RSA
needs to focus on acceptable yields with limited input in
order to accommodate the needs of these up and coming
small scale farmers. The focus of commercial farmers to
date was maximum marketable yield only. The difference
between these two objectives speak for itself. New potato varieties of the Agricultural Research Council (ARC)
planted in cooperation with a small scale farmer in KwaZulu Natal
Philippus Steyn and Dr Lerato Matsaunyane are in charge
of the potato breeding programme at the Agricultural Re- tries to improve this efficiency over time, by breeding and
search Council (Vegetable and Ornamental Plants) facility releasing varieties that are better equipped to convert the
based at Roodeplaat near Pretoria. Recently they initiated sunlight received into dry matter (genetic gain).”
a project to evaluate past achievements of the national
potato breeding programme in RSA – taking a critical look “To compare different crops with each other, we need to
at particularly the last three decades of breeding efforts in remove al the water from the interested parts (tubers in
South Africa. the case of potatoes) to be able to compare ‘potatoes with
potatoes’” Steyn says. “On average, potato tubers con-
The elite potato trials planted at Roodeplaat from Sep- tain about 20 % dry matter with the rest being water. De-
tember 1982 to 2010 were used for this evaluation study. A termining the genetic gain tells the breeder if he or she is
total of 495 potato genotypes were evaluated in 28 trials. successful in improving the crop over time, and also how
Gains with regard to yield, tuber dry matter (DM), dry mat- successful the achievement was.”
ter yield (DM Yield) and crisp fry colour were evaluated.
Steyn explains the fundamentals that underpinned the Steyn notes that Dr Matsaunyane and himself then used
premise of their evaluation study. “Plants converts the this measurement guidelines to determine the improve-
energy received from the sun into different components ment of varieties over time, and they only look at the best
that makes up the plant,” he says. “The farmer is interes- five varieties from each trial for a specific trait, and then
ted in the parts that can be marketed and used as food. compared it to a single variety that served as the bench-
Researchers look at this efficiency as the ability to produ- mark. The variety BP1 bred by the late Dr Van Der Plank in
ce dry matter per hectare. The plant breeder on his part the 1960‘s was used as a benchmark. The genetic gains in
14 ISSUE 1 | 2019Varieties
three traits were determined: Tuber Dry Matter (TDM), Dry Steyn and Matsaunyane agree on this: “Being a potato
Matter yield (DM-yield) and fry colour. breeder in RSA today is the best possible job position one
could hope for. Not only do you have to apply the art of
The breeders found that varieties developed in the South selecting the best varieties, you have all the modern tools
African potato breeding programme showed an improve- available with incredible people applying their trade wor-
ment of 0,42 % regarding tuber dry matter year on year. king towards the same goal.”
“This value tells the processing company a lot about the va- On the other hand, they say, you are also working direct-
rieties being developed potential to be processed into frozen ly with farmers trying to bring change to their future and
fries or crisps in the factory but not a lot on what the farmer influence the future of their communities for the better.
can expect of each hectare harvested,” Steyn points out. “The decisions made by the breeder today will have an
impact in the next eight or ten years’ time,” the breeders
He says the DM-yield is easily determined by multiplying point out. “We believe that the task of the breeder is ulti-
the yield with the TDM percentage. Comparing the DM-yi- mately to reduce input costs for farmers by releasing im-
eld values over time in the breeding programme a genetic proved varieties and constantly improving the quality of
gain of 1,70 % was achieved. the spuds being grown. Improving dry matter and adap-
tability to an ever-changing environment are key to bree-
“The top five candidates regarding TDM varieties will differ ding success.”
from the top DM-yield candidates,” Steyn says. “Candida-
tes in both the top 5 groups will be good processing varie- The only way forward to achieve this, is to reduce the im-
ties that is of value for both the processor and the farmer.” pact of chemicals used in farming by breeding for disease
resistance and tolerance to heat and drought, they say.
“This research shows that the breeding programme bet- “It is no longer a matter of how much tonnes per hectare,
ween 1982 and 2010 focussed on producing varieties with but rather what is the best yield with the lowest cost to the
value to the processing industry,” Steyn says. “Darius was farmer and reduced impact on the environment.”
one of the processing varieties released by the ARC during
this period, and at one stage re-
presented almost 10 % of all po- A close look at new breeding lines
tatoes produced in South Africa.”
Sugars produced in the leaves of
the plants is transported to the
tubers and then converted into
starch. This conversion process
is faster in some varieties than
others. This is easily determi-
ned by frying 3 mm thick slices
in oil at 180 °C for 3 minutes, ac-
cording to Steyn. “Darker crisps
has more of the unconverted
sugars and can become a prob-
lem for processing into crisps.”
As with DM-yield, this trait was
also evaluated by Steyn and
Matsaunyane. Year on year they
found that there was an impro-
vement of 0,16 %. “Although the
trait was improving it might be
more difficult to breed for it spe-
cifically, or perhaps not as im-
portant as DM-yield in the bree-
ding process,” Steyn points out.
15Pest Management
Eco-efficient capsules to revolu-
tionize pest control in potato crops
An EU-funded INBIOSOIL project has developed a new, eco-friendly method
to control wireworm in potatoes that can be used in conventional and organic
systems. The new method of pest control uses special formulated capsules called
ATTRACAP®. They contain a strain of an entomopathogenic fungus that attacks
specific pest insects and can reduce chemical pesticide use on potato farms.
T
he company BIOCARE is located in Lower Saxony,
Germany. “We are overwhelmed by inquiries from
farmers willing to use the product on their fields,
therefore the upscaling of production will continue,”
Prof. Dr. Stefan Vidal, INBIOSOIL Project Coordinator,
said. “We expect ATTRACAP to become a standard cont-
rol strategy for both organic and conventional farmers,”
he added.
Targeting wireworms
The capsules aim to control wireworms – currently regar-
ded as the most pressing problem in potato production.
“They contain compounds which are non-synthetic pro- A wireworm surrounded by ATTRACAP capsules
ducts and therefore their use is possible in both organic
and conventional cropping systems. The Attract & Kill stra-
tegy, based on these capsules, will substitute the use of
synthetic chemical insecticides,” Vidal explained. “Although reliable data calculating the economic impact
of wireworms on crop yields is not available, farmer or-
The launch of these capsules in 2016 in Germany came at a ganisations in different European countries are willing
time, when virtually no specific synthetic compounds tar- to adopt this new pest control strategy simply because it
geting wireworms were available. The compound used in works,” Vidal outlined.
conventional fields in the past was Fipronil, known com-
mercially as Goldor® Bait, a product produced by BASF. Moreover, the cost per hectare of ATTRACAP® capsules is
such that even smallholder farmers can afford it and are
However, the European Commission introduced a mora- happy to apply it on their fields, Vidal emphasised.
torium on products suspected of playing a role in the bee
disease Colony Collapse Disorder. Whilst national regis- Biological nature of the killing agent
tration agencies say that emergency case approval of this The killing agent contained in the capsules is an isolate
product would be possible, BASF has not applied for it. of an entomopathogenic fungus, occurring naturally in
arable soils worldwide. Given the 100 % biological back-
Economic costs of wireworm infestation ground of this strategy, EU environmental protection
Conventional potato farmers are currently experiencing goals are met. Moreover, the spores of the fungus are ap-
economic problems due to the poor quality of potatoes plied to the soil, restricting their unintended passive di-
that have been damaged by wireworms. Meanwhile, or- spersal. This limits interactions with above-ground orga-
ganic farmers are also suffering severe income losses due nisms such as honey bees. Furthermore, earthworms are
the same pest. not attracted to the capsules.
16 ISSUE 1 | 2019Pest Management
Control of other pests
According to Vidal, the INBIOSOIL project delivered even
better results than originally anticipated. However, the
project’s idea in the beginning was to additionally target
other soil dwelling pests such as western corn rootworm
(WCR) larvae, using the same attract-and-kill approach.
Credit: BIOCARE
“Laboratory and field experimental data did not provide
sufficient control results, thus we are currently modifying
the composition of the capsules to better control other pest
species. Another pest, cabbage maggots (Delia radicum) is a Wireworm approaching seed potato in field with capsules
new target for the ATTRACAP® capsules,” Vidal said. clearly visible.
In the future, the basic technology developed by INBIOSO-
IL will be used to develop more environmentally-friendly properties. This fungus occurs throughout the world in so-
pest control products. ‘Several proposals have been sub- ils and it is commonly applied in biological control agents.
mitted to collect funding for these innovative develop- “After the granules absorb moisture from the soil, the pro-
ments,’ Vidal concluded. duction process of the attracting agent and the growing
of the fungus spores out of the granules begin. Attracted
Efficacy of the product in practice Agriotes spp. are infected after contact with the fungus
Fabian Schaper, Head of Sales at BIOCARE in Germany and they die after several days depending on temperature
told Global Potato News: “We are heading into our fourth and soil conditions,” Schaper says.
season of selling the product in Germany in 2019, and we
are doing trials in several countries of Europe and other He points out that capsules are spread directly on the soil
parts of the world. The efficacy of the product is very high during planting, using a spreader for granules and mixed
– we have seen a success rate that goes up to more than into an open furrow. Depending on weather and region
70 % reduction of wireworm damaged potatoes (realized this takes place between March and May in Germany. Since
in exact trials of the Agricultural Research Institute LTZ 2017 BIOCARE works on the regular European registration
Augustenberg of the State of Baden-Württemberg in Sout- process to deliver not only the German and Austrian but the
hern Germany).” entire European market with their eco-efficient product.
How does the capsules work?
Schaper says ATTRACAP® contains both an attractant More information on the ATTRACAP® capsules can
(CO2) for Agriotes spp., and a fungus isolated in Germany – be found on the BIOCARE website: biocare.de
Metarhizium brunneum Cb15-III – with entomopathogenic
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mail@erling-verlag.com · www.erling-verlag.com 17Soil
The advent of the “Google of Soil”
Imagine a potato field in midseason, leaves are fully expanded, tubers have been
initiated and are filling out. On your phone you pull up a map of your field, tap on
any location and you see the condition of the soil relative to the rest of the field.
U
sing a combination of soil data, However, imagery alone is
aerial maps, weather and a few past-looking as the crop is already
in-soil sensors aided by po- stressed when variations can be
werful machine learning and AI algo- seen by this technique. The most
rithms, you can access real time data promising approach to a true Goo-
on water, temperature, fertility and gle of soil is the integration of field
even soil organic matter and biologi- specific data on the soil, weather,
cal activity, for any point in the field. remote sensing data such as aerial
The program analyzes variability imagery and in-field sensors, using
across the field and makes recom- artificial intelligence (AI) to inter-
mendations for precision applicati- polate between the various points
ons of water and fertilizer. around the field and throughout the
soil. This integrated approach can be
This “Google of Soil” may be a rea- a powerful tool to better understand
lity sooner than you think. and manage the variability across
fields.
Peering into the soil is still hea-
vily dependent on manual sam- The Google of soil will deliver more
pling, laboratory testing and precise information with less complex
analyzing all the recorded data. hardware. A good example comes
Soil sensors augment manual from Cropx. Applying soil hydraulic al-
sampling and provide continuous read gorithms, soil data and satellite image-
on soil conditions instead of sampling snapshots. Aerial ry, Cropx utilizes a single 3-point sensor to create a picture
imagery provides visual information on variability across of soil moisture both in a continuous vertical column and
crop performance, including water and nutrient stress. at any point on the field. New software will compare prob-
lem regions to those with greater yield and help determi-
ne the conditions that resulted in better yield and quality.
CropX sensor in field
After centuries of study there is still much we do not know
about the soil and how it affects plant growth and, more
importantly, how plants adapt to the conditions in which
they are growing. Like most living organisms, plants are
designed to exploit resources that are most readily avai-
lable. The crop above ground may be beautifully uniform
but below ground it may resemble pockets and strings as
roots compete for nutrients and water.
The view of the soil and our ability to get the most out of
it will be enhanced by the Google of Soil.
18 ISSUE 1 | 2019Soil
Researchers to dig into soil
health and soil-borne diseases
Colorado is among the top potato producers nationwide, but growers in the San
Luis Valley face perennial threats to their crops, including soil-borne pathogens
that kill plants before harvest, as well as drought and other challenges.
F
or nearly four years, plant pathologists Courtney Jahn
and Jane Stewart have worked closely with Colorado
potato growers, leading state-funded research to assess
soil health, disease mitigation and crop rotation strategies.
Now, together with researchers from nine other universi-
ties, Jahn and Stewart will continue exploring best practi-
ces for strong, disease-resistant potato crops in Colorado
and beyond, as co-recipients of an $8 million national grant.
Jahn and Stewart, both faculty members in the Depart-
ment of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management,
are sharing in the four-year grant awarded by the U.S. De-
partment of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Research trials underway at CSU
Agriculture, under the Specialty Crop Research Initiative
funding program. Cover crops, rotational strategies
In Colorado, the researchers have been looking at soil fer-
Healthy soil, healthy potatoes tility, microbial changes, and whether pathogen pressu-
The project’s aim is to marshal interstate expertise to fully res increase or decrease from various cropping schemes,
understand all factors affecting soil health and soil-borne Stewart said. For example, they have explored the use of
potato diseases, which account for half of all annual U.S. cover crops and rotational crops like barley and quinoa,
potato crop losses. The overall goal of the four-year pro- and have experimented with bringing in cows to graze co-
ject, which is led by researchers at the University of Min- ver-crop fields.
nesota, will be to enhance the environmental quality and
economic viability of potato operations in the U.S. “With the new grant, we can apply some of the same tech-
niques we’ve been using, but now we can test even more
Specific growing challenges vary by region, according to rotational schemes,” Stewart said. “Previously we could
Jahn. For example, regions outside of Colorado have re- only do so many, but now we will have the opportunity to
lied on soil fumigants to kill pathogens, such as potato do more treatments and build our datasets.”
early die, or certain nematodes. Such fumigants, inclu-
ding methyl bromide, are being phased out by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency due to human and soil
Author
health concerns, putting pressure on growers to devise al-
Anne Manning, Science Writer and
ternative soil-health practices.
Senior Public Relations Specialist,
Colorado State University
Colorado growers do not typically use fumigation to protect
their plants, due to the state’s drier climate and higher ele-
vations. However, Colorado does encounter other soil-borne
diseases including common and powdery scab, and soft rot.
19Processing Technology
Pulsemaster: Novel applications
for potato processing
Pulsed Electric Field technology (PEF) enables the development of innovative,
cost-effective, and sustainable processing concepts for the manufacturing of
French fries, crisps and other potato specialities. PEF treatment is already being
applied in the production of French fries on an industrial scale around the world
and offers a host of benefits and possibilities.
P
EF technology has also been tested and validated for
other applications such as fresh fruit juices, tomato
“Pulsemaster PEF-equipment de-
processing, olive oil and the production of red wine. sign has a focus on physical pro-
PEF is a non-thermal technology for food processing based cesses to maximise the effect of
on the application of repetitive, short electric field pulses
to the food. This creates miniscule holes in membranes of
processor’s raw materials” –
the plant cells, which makes the cells porous and facilitates Werner Kohorst, Pulsemaster
transport of water and other valuable compounds.
This technology induces poration of membranes of potato
cells, leading to cell disintegration. A typical PEF system for Improved cut quality gives the French fries a smoother
potato processing consists of a high voltage pulse generator surface which then reduces oil absorption during frying.
and a treatment chamber through which the potatoes flow French fries are long because the potatoes break less du-
in water. In the treatment chamber the high voltage pulses ring processing, post cutting. Improved cutting of crisps
are applied. results in smoother surfaces and less coloration.
New possibilities The subsequent reduced oil uptake and water retention
In the potato industry, PEF technology results in improved leads to crunchier crisps. In potato mash production, pul-
cut quality: a softer texture facilitates French fries cutting. sed electric field processing evens out the structural variati-
This results in less breakage and shattering, producing lon- ons in potatoes, resulting in a large reduction of the number
ger thin French fries from large potatoes. and size of lumps and a smoother mash for a better bite.
A French fry cut potato after
PEF is much less rigid than an
untreated potato
20 ISSUE 1 | 2019You can also read
