British potato growers can now benefit from a new AHDB variety tool, offering an interactive way to select cultivars based on varietal pest and disease-resistance ratings. Picking which variety to plant next spring can be time-consuming, with 249 listed on the AHDB’s potato variety database.
Information includes detailed varietal characteristics including pest and disease resistance and is a tool in the IPM armoury to assist growers in varietal choice and also potentially reduce chemical use or to react to the loss of an active substance.
Anne Stone, AHDB Potatoes knowledge exchange manager, said the tool aims to make information more accessible to the whole industry.
“For packers, it is an important, but difficult decision to choose which varieties to put forward to the retailer, and for growers it is a challenge to know which variety should be planted in which field,” she said. This practical tool for agronomists and growers was developed by taking information from the potato variety database and combining this with our market intelligence information.”
The tool will aid growers and agronomists to help pick the right variety, while identifying potential weaknesses and how best to use the genetic resources available.
Visit this page on the AHDB website to enter the variety comparison tool.
Source: AHDB
Note: This tool is a beta version and may be subject to changes. Please send your feedback and comments to the email below. Please note that this tool is a beta version maybe subject to changes.
