Potatoes in Practice last week followed by the PCN Open Day yesterday means most, if not all, the project members have been pretty busy lately! Both events could be deemed a success with lots of interest in the project at PiP and a great attendance at the open day. At PiP, we had a plot demonstrating 8 Globodera pallida resistant varieties. This was a good talking point because resistant varieties are a powerful tool for controlling PCN, especially if used as part of an integrated pest management approach.

The open day built on this but at a PCN-infested site with 12 resistant and partially resistant varieties that are being trialled by Scottish Agronomy in replicated plots. We also had project members discussing tolerance to PCN, chitinous soil amendment, groundkeeper control and soil sampling. A tasty lunch topped the day off and hopefully those who attended got something out of it.