Ireland: Potato industry entering new era of blight management

Published 2024년 4월 13일

Tridge summary

The article highlights the significant challenges faced by the Irish potato industry due to the emergence of the EU43 variant of the blight fungus, Phytophthora infestans, which is resistant to the carboxylic acid amide (CAA) group of fungicides. This variant, previously identified in Denmark and the Netherlands, poses a considerable threat due to its rapid life cycle and high mutation potential, necessitating more complex and costly blight prevention strategies. Experts from Teagasc, Kessel, and ADAS stress the importance of using a combination of fungicide molecules, developing blight-resistant potato varieties, and adopting effective crop management strategies to combat this and other resistant blight genotypes like EU46. The evolving nature of blight resistance, exacerbated by challenging weather conditions and the potential increase in management costs, underscores the urgent need for a multi-faceted response to protect the potato industry.

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Original content

It is a future based on the set of two active fungicide molecules in combination – and each at full rate – each time a crop is sprayed for blight. Driving all of this, is the confirmation that blight populations are fast developing resistance to the fungicide chemistries currently available at an ever increasing rate. More specifically, last autumn was marked by the confirmation that the EU43 variant of the blight fungus (phytophthora infestans) had been identified in Irish potato crop samples. This is the genotype that had previously caused damage to potato crops in both Denmark and the Netherlands, as a direct result of its resistance to the carboxylic acid amide (CAA) group of fungicides. Despite the fact that only one EU43 infected sample was identified, Teagasc and all other stakeholder groups within the potato sector are now working on the basis that the genotype is on the island of Ireland and poses a major threat to Irish potato crops that are grown this year. The ...

Source: Argenpapa