There are various threats to the health of potatoes, including Blight and viruses transmitted by aphids
Potato field
DARD Blight-Net
Blight-Net involves the provision of easy to access and up to date information on the monitoring and control of potato blight in Northern Ireland via the Internet. Use of Blight-Net assists growers to apply fungicides more effectively and can provide necessary information for justifying fungicide use. The information is updated twice weekly and is available from June until September. For more information, see DARD Blight-Net data tables
DARD Blight-Net is a decision support system to assist in the control of Potato Blight. Using weather data from a network of local weather stations, it provides area-based information on the risk of blight infection. This can help growers achieve more effective blight control with the optimum use of fungicides. For latest information on crop management see Crop Monitor and Crop Management Notes.
The risk of blight infection is low if there are fewer than 11 risk hours in a 24 hour period.There is an increased risk of blight infection if there are 11 or more risk hours in a 24 hour period.There is a high risk of blight infection if there are 2 or more consecutive 24 hour periods that contain 11 or more risk hours each. This corresponds to a Smith Period. Apply blight fungicides at the intervals recommended for high risk conditions over the duration of such periods.
One of the major threats to the health of seed potato crops is the transmission of viruses by aphids. Virus incidence in seed potatoes has a significant bearing on the quality (and hence classification and profitability) of the crop.
Data from trapping systems is used to monitor aphids and can be used to improve the forecasting of the risk of virus transmission. Aphid Monitor involves the provision of easy to access and up to date information on the monitoring of aphids in the United Kingdom via the Internet.
Summary for week up to and including 14/09/2015
Virus pressure risk at MID, N and NW sites - low Virus pressure risk at NNW site – moderate
samples received from 4 sites
overall NI mean vector pressure remaining low
increased vector activity at NNW site but unlikely to be relevant due to mature resistance and impending harvest
low numbers of Cereal aphids Rhopalosiphum padi and R. insertum recorded in other trapping records
week up to and including 21 September will be final week for sample collection
where crops have been burned-down, no further samples are required from these sites
Seed potato health is of vital importance to both growers of home-saved seed for ware and of seed crops for export markets. This workshop aims to demonstrate best practice principles in the area of seed crop management and preparation to aid growers to maintain their crops in the best possible conditions during storage and/or ahead of planting. For more information on the workshop, please use the link below:
A clean store impresses potential clients and minimises crop infection. Clean means that the store is free from dust, debris and rejected tubers. For more information, please use the link below:
Dry rot is caused by Fusarium species fungi and is a problem throughout the UK. Infected seed leads to uneven emergence, gappy crops, low yields and wide variations in tuber size at harvest.
Fungicide Resistance Management in Potatoes, Tuber Diseases
Fungicides are used to control a range of pathogens responsible for rots and blemishes of potato tubers. For more information, please use the link below:
