Crop Clinic

The nematodes will be near the soil surface and the sooner fields are sampled, the more time you have to decide whether they need to take action for potato cyst nematode (PCN) or spraing next year.

SAC can assess population size and species of potato cyst nematode (PCN) which can allow you to take decisions on whether a nematicide may be needed or whether growing a resistant potato variety may be the best management option.

Free-living nematodes have become more problematic over the last decade, with populations of Trichodorid nematodes (which transmit tobacco rattle virus that leads to spraing) increasing threefold.

Trichodorid (and Longidorid) nematodes can also cause direct feeding damage to potato crops at emergence, as well as vectoring the virus that causes spraing.

Consequently, an assessment of nematode populations as well as determining if they are carrying tobacco rattle virus (TRV), is an important factor in effective nematode management.

SAC can carry out an assessment of nematode populations and test them for the presence of TRV, so that an accurate assessment of the risk of direct feeding damage and spraing risk can be provided for individual fields.