The Growing Better Potatoes Workshop was hosted by Australian Horticultural Research (AHR) and the PotatoLink project. PotatoLink is funded through the fresh and processing potato levies and contributions from the Australian government.

The workshop brought together four well respected speakers to cover a number of topics. These included seed potato storage, cutting, and producing the best quality and quantity of tubers, presented by Dr. Jenny Ekman (AHR) and Associate Professor Andy Robinson (North Dakota State University). Specific diseases to roots and tubers such as black dot and verticillium wilt was the subject matter for Dr. Len Tesoriero (CropDoc), while Dr. Chad Hutchinson (TriCal) spoke about using fumigants to promote soil health and suppress soil borne diseases.

It all begins with good quality seed potatoes which, according to Dr Ekman, are a living, breathing entities that age with time. Managing that ageing process to gain the best possible results is all about the storage environment.

A seed potato lives and breathes. When removed the ground it is warm, which means it is still respiring, burning energy, producing heat and ageing. The optimum storage temperature has been found to be around 3 to 5°C depending on variety. Managing the warm seed into a coolstore to cool it down without moisture loss, or condensation forming that can cause rot is a vital aspect of extending a seed potato’s shelf life.

Further, according to Andy Robinson, if you are using cut seed potatoes, giving it the right amount of time (and temperature) to heal at the wound site is an important consideration.

The size and shape of the cut seed potato will also have an impact on the yield. Smaller cuts may not produce enough tubers, while misshapen or irregular sizes, make it harder to manage the crop. Professor Robinson strongly urged delegates to check the seed cutter regularly and to keep the blades sharp and clean to reduce damage and disease risks.

Dr. Tesoriero has conducted wide-ranging research on many different potato diseases. In this presentation, he focused on the diseases black dot, verticillium wilt and early dying. His advice for managing the presence of these diseases included the use of certified seed potatoes; soil testing across the paddock (not just taking an average, and for certain diseases only); and using treatments that are registered and suit Australian conditions.

His recommendations also included the use of cover crops and biofumigants but warned that some plants including Fat Hen, Black nightshade, heliotrope, and others, can also be hosts for certain diseases. Applications of both biofumigants and fungicides need also to consider the vagaries of each potato variety as some react better to others to the active ingredients.

Potatoes Australia / Summer - 2022/23

To learn more about what soil fumigation can do in your fields contact us at 08 8347 3838 or info@trical.com.au