Publications
Publications relating to PCN and the project can be found here.
The Estimated Economic Contribution of Scotland's Seed and Ware Potato Sectors
This report is part of Work Package 1: Economic Contribution of the Scottish Government funded research project: Delivering a sustainable potato industry for Scotland through management of Potato cyst nematode (PCN). As part of this workstream this report aims to provide new insights into the economic contribution that the Scottish potato sector makes beyond the often cited farmgate value of potato production. This report provides a statistical overview of this concentrated and highly regulated sector, including data on consumption, exports, imports, production, varieties, seed and ware sector – alongside estimates of economic contribution.
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 G. Rostochiensis (Table 1). Replicates of each variety were treated with either Nemathorin 10G (30 kg/ha, a.i. Fosthiazate) or left untreated.
A desk based review of alternatives to glyphosate to control groundkeepers
Glyphosate is the main herbicide used to control potato groundkeepers. A desk based study has been undertaken to review alternative control methods and this report considers chemical, non-chemical, and integrated options while providing information on the consequences if glyphosate was not available as a control option.
Project Report Year One - Delivering a sustainable potato industry for Scotland through management of potato cyst nematode (PCN)
A summary report of progress made across the work packages addressed by the PCN working group in year one.
Tolerance to Potato Cyst Nematodes: A review
A review of information relating to tolerance of potatoes to cyst nematodes.
PCN Working Group Final Report
A working group comprised of over 50 potato industry, government and academia partners was set up to create a strategy for dealing with PCN. The resulting report written by Ian Toth, Fiona Burnett, Philip Burgess, Colin Herron, Jon Pickup, is published on the Plant Health Centre website and includes the four recommendations below that the group proposed:
- Increase the potato sector’s capability and motivation to implement change
- Preserve the land base for future generations
- Control the epidemic
- Recognise the investment needed to tackle the PCN problem.
Plant Health Centre - Future Threat of PCN Report
This report was originally published on the Plant Health Centre website and was written by Vivian Blok, Jon Pickup, Kim Davie, Helen Kettle, David Ewing, Adrian Roberts, Laura Kuhfuss, Adam Kleczkowski, Beth McDougall.
The study:
- Determines the most effective way to control PCN is the use of resistant varieties and that more G. pallida resistance markers are required to assist breeders.
- Identifies practices that are detrimental to the control of PCN and barriers to the uptake of good practice in Scotland.
- Includes recommendations such as encouraging the use of resistant varieties in control programmes and potentially shifting rules within the legislation to benefit the management of PCN.
The report concluded that if no action is taken, and at the current rate of increase, the widespread presence of G. pallida may prohibit the production of seed potatoes on land free from PCN in as little as 30 years.
AHDB PCN Grower Guide
The AHDB PCN Grower Guide covers many aspects of PCN from background and prevalence to distribution, sampling and control methods. This guide was published in 2018 by AHDB Potatoes.