Globally, late blight (Phytophthora infestans) is the most destructive pathogen of potatoes, and has been identified as the cause of potato famines in Europe dating back to the 1800s. Professor Jonathan Jones from The Sainsbury Laboratory in Norwich, England is investigating ways that Maris Piper potatoes can be genetically modified to develop late blight resistance….
A three-year Sustainable Farming Fund project investigated the impact of both soil physical structure and potato seed health on crop productivity and disease development. The study showed that potato crop performance can be negatively affected by poor soil structural conditions and the presence of seed and soil-borne diseases, and that these two main yield-limiting factors…
Plant and Food research have been studying the impact of different spray regimes on Tomato Potato Psyllid (TPP) populations in a series of small plot experiments for nine years. The latest series of trials have been conducted in commercial Waikato potato crops to investigate the efficacy of reduced insecticide programs in North Island potato crops….
[columns] [span6] [/span6][span6] An agreement has been signed between PNZ, Massey University and the Food Industry Enabling Technologies to fund a three-year Potato Tuber Spectral Imaging Project. A proof of concept study was conducted in 2017 by Massey University with the funding and support of Potato New Zealand Inc (PNZ) to investigate the potential of…
A research project in New Zealand is determining if different field soils affect development of powdery scab on potatoes, and whether soil physical, chemical and/or biological characteristics influence this important potato disease. The project is developing new knowledge that may provide a basis for manipulating soil factors to reduce the harmful effects of the powdery…
Research, Development & Extension (RD&E) is one of the four themes driving Potatoes New Zealand Inc (PNZ)’s strategic plan. The other three being Markets, Quality and Industry Good initiatives. There are two parts of Potatoes New Zealand’s RD&E programme; Part A – on-farm productivity innovations, including plant breeding, and the development and extension activities on-farm to…
Alex Michel, Sarah Sinton and Steven Dellow, Plant & Food Research (PFR) Potato crops require high water supply and are often competing with other crops on the farm for irrigation through the summer months, when demand is high and supply can be limited. In the 2015-16 season, an experiment was run on a PFR experimental…
At the recent Potatoes NZ Grower Talks, Jen Linton (Research Manager for FAR) provided a high-level update on a selection of the current research projects… Research for the 2017/18 season is well underway with trials planted and research programmes half way through their investigation. Research is being undertaken with both processing and seed crops and in Canterbury,…
A recently published Ontario Produce Marketing Association research report proposes how improving table potato quality and pack-out can increase profitability. Click here to download the case study.
Update by Jen Linton, Potato Research Manager, FAR The number of trials and sites around the country has made the 2016/17 potato research season an exciting one for the research team. We are very pleased with how the season has gone and the teamwork across the various groups and organisations involved on the ground has…
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