Potato growers battling potato cyst nematode (PCN) problems are set to benefit from significant breeding efforts into producing fresh varieties resistant to the key nematode species Globodera pallida.
Some promising varieties with resistance to this key pest are moving to the end of breeders’ pipelines with the potential to crack a fresh market dominated by a handful of susceptible favourites.
While speculation continues about when nematicides such as soil-fumigant metam sodium and granular products oxamyl and fosthiazate might be lost, there is an increasing call for more non-chemical tools to be used on farm.
The most important is varietal resistance, which can help growers reduce PCN populations and, if combined with tolerance, do so without compromising yield and subsequent profit.
