Several newly evolved strains of the disease known as potato virus Y, or PVY, have emerged and are threatening the North American potato industry. These new strains can render potatoes unmarketable and reduce crop yield. What’s worse is the new viruses are particularly difficult to detect with the naked eye. Training workshops by Cornell College of Agriculture this year will cover field identification of PVY (strains O, N-Wi and NTN), including visual identification of foliar symptoms on 20 cultivars commonly grown in each region (NW, Mid-West and NE). Workshops will be hosted in Washington State, Wisconsin and Maine. A high attendance rate is expected because recent standardization of seed certification programs across the U.S. includes the requirement for documentation of inspector training.
However, this training will also be beneficial to growers, people who rogue, and those in the potato industry in general. The workshop is part of a USDA-NIFA Specialty Crops Initiative award titled “Biological and economic impacts of emerging potato tuber necrotic viruses and the development of comprehensive and sustainable management practices.” The workshops are free, but pre-registration is requested:
Washington | Wisconsin | Maine
