Potato disease blackleg has increased in prevalence on potatoes this year. Andy Alexander, East Anglian NFU Potato Forum member and independent potato agronomist is warning growers to take precautions. “This is a great source of concern for growers,” he said, “not least in Scotland, where at the recent Potato in Practice (PIP) event at Dundee, Scottish Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) representatives said eight percent of this season’s seed crops have been downgraded as a result of blackleg infection - a doubling on last year’s figures.”
The increase in blackleg is widely believed to be weather-related causing conditions that favour blackleg development.
“There has been a steady building of blackleg since 2003, with 2010 as the only year in which blackleg levels fell,” said Alexander. “As we are all too aware, blackleg is one of the key diseases affecting all sectors of the potato industry in Great Britain. There are some basic best practice measures we can all take to manage the risks posed by blackleg, when faced with it.”
He advises growers to identify at-risk stocks pre-harvest and treat them separately as well as to allow contaminated tubers to break down in the soil before lifting.
“Harvest as early as possible and in good, dry conditions,” added Alexander. “Ensure good machinery hygiene and post-harvest, make sure tubers are well set before going into store. Once in store, tubers need to be kept as dry and cool as possible.”
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