Guarding against disease and the importance of diagnostics in ensuring high health potato crops will be two of the topics covered at the UK’s largest potato field event Potatoes in Practice on 12 August.

Held at SCRI’s Balruddery Farm near Dundee, the event will feature research and variety trials alongside seminars, machinery and marquee exhibits. It is sponsored by Potato Council and features trials and demonstrations from SCRI, SAC, CSC Potato Care and the potato industry.

Protecting potato production from the threats of existing and new diseases will be the subject for Dr Gerry Saddler, Head of Diagnostics and Molecular Biology at SASA. He will outline government measures taken to control the introduction and spread of disease and give growers practical advice on what they can do.

The benefits of using diagnostics to test soil will be explained by Dr Vivian Blok and Dr Roy Neilson of SCRI. Identifying pest and disease levels before planting can help growers make decisions on site selection, varieties and chemical control treatments in particular fields.

There will also be information for farmers on symptoms they may see on potato plants following infection by Dickeya; an aggressive blackleg strain that has recently reared its head in Scotland. It is estimated to have caused £25 million losses to the Netherlands potato industry when it swept through crops in 2007. Scotland has recently introduced stricter controls in an effort to protect the industry from its potentially devastating effects.

More than 650 growers, advisors, overseas visitors and industry representatives attended Potatoes in Practice in 2009 and visitors to this year’s event will have the opportunity to see over 50 exhibitors.

Notes to editors

More information can be found on the Potatoes in Practice page.

Members of the press are invited to attend Potatoes in Practice at Balruddery Farm, by Dundee, DD2 5LJ from 9.30am-4.30pm on Thursday 12 August. On arrival please attend at reception.

More information from:

Phil Taylor, Head of Communications, SCRI, Invergowrie, Dundee, DD2 5DA Office: 01382 560044 Mobile: 07810 860 701

or

Lorraine Wakefield, Information and Online Service Officer, SCRI, Invergowrie, Dundee, DD2 5DA. Tel: 01382 560047 (direct line) or 01382 562731 (switchboard)