Significant economic losses from PCN are possible and the costs and benefits of interventions are unclear.
Control options for PCN in Scotland are reducing so it is becoming more important to provide growers with support to manage PCN.
Land infested with PCN is becoming more prevalent and potato breeding could be used to address this problem.
Improvements in potato breeding will help control PCN through the increased availability of resistant varieties.
Tolerance, the ability of a variety to produce a good yield despite the presence of PCN, is not widely understood at a genetic level.
Controlling potato groundkeepers is important because they reduce the effectiveness of rotations for PCN management.
The industry will need to look at different approaches such as integrated pest management (IPM) especially if chemical controls for PCN decrease.
Communicating with stakeholders about the future threat of PCN in Scotland and the management techniques available and under development.
Changes to Scottish Government policy are required to safeguard Scottish land from PCN and create a coordinated control strategy for infested land.

Latest Project Outputs

Resistance in Potato Varieties

Resistance in different potato varieties is a key tool for control of PCN populations. 

This factsheet defines what is meant by susceptible, partially resistant, and highly resistant varieties as well as explaining how resistance scores are calculated. 

Front page of resistance factsheet /sites/www.pcnhub.ac.uk/files/2023-11/resistance_factsheet.pdf

Latest NewsView All News

PCN Action Scotland Feature in Potato News Today

An article on PCN Action Scotland has been featured in Potato News Today!

www.potatonewstoday.com/2023/11/10/potato-cyst-nematodes-threaten-scottish-seed-potato-industrys-future/

Latest PublicationView All Publications

Drone picture of 2022 trial site

The Barnyards field trial 2022 report - A field trial investigating the resistance and tolerance characteristics of eleven potato varieties to Globodera pallida in Scotland

In 2022 a field trial was established which aimed to provide information on the integrated control of Globodera pallida. This report publishes the results of the field trial planted at Barnyards Farm on 02/05/2022 - a location with a moderate-high PCN population. The trial consisted of 11 potato varieties (Cara, Maris Peer, Elland, Innovator, Eurostar, Buster, Amanda, Karelia, Cinderella, Lanorma, and Tyson) with varying levels of resistance to both G. Pallida and GRostochiensis (Table 1). Replicates of each variety were treated with either Nemathorin 10G (30 kg/ha, a.i. Fosthiazate) or left untreated.

 

Sign up for our Newsletter and to be kept informed about Centre activities: