Idaho potato industry awaiting results of field tests of trap crop to eliminate pale cyst nematode

The first Idaho field tests of a so-called trap crop that researchers hope can significantly reduce pale cyst nematode numbers in infested potato fields went well, at least from an agronomic standpoint. Now the state’s potato industry is awaiting the release of research results that will show how well litchi tomato fared in actually reducing PCN numbers. Those results are expected to be released in December or January, said Lloyd Knight, the Idaho State Department of Agriculture’s plant industries division administrator. “If it does work like they think it will, it would be a really good solution to this problem,” said Oakley potato grower Randy Hardy. PCN, a tiny worm that can reduce potato yields if it’s present in high numbers, was first detected in Idaho in 2006 and 26 fields encompassing 2,897 acres are infested with PCN. More