Potato

Michigan Potato Industry Commission

1. Alternative Management and Detection of Emerging Pest and Disease Issues

Develop and evaluate alternative management, detection, monitoring, and control strategies for emerging and existing pest and disease issues, including:

Monitoring and managing insecticide resistance in Colorado Potato Beetle and other emerging pests, while developing alternative management strategies for current controls.
Potato virus Y (PVY), including direct tuber testing in seed potatoes.
Mop Top Virus vectored by Powdery Scab.
Tobacco Rattle vectored by stubby root nematode.
Preparing for effective insect control, especially Colorado Potato Beetles and aphids, if the use of neonicotinoids is lost.
Preparing for effective disease control, including late blight, with the reduced use or loss of chemistries such as chlorothalonil and mancozeb.

2. Improving Potato Production Systems

Improve potato production systems with emphasis on:

Beneficial soil microbial activity.
Nematode population diversity.
Fertility improvement to positively impact specific gravity and tuber quality.
Enhancement of the ability to quantify nutrients in irrigation water and evaluate their impact on crop performance.
Cover crops.
Improved mechanical or technical tools and methods to increase water-use efficiency, increase aquifer recharge, and reduce runoff.
Organic amendments for sustainability in modern potato production.
Developing a better understanding of climate-resilient management practices.

3. Genetic Improvement Through Variety Development and Trials

Advance genetic improvement through variety development and trials for traits that improve:

Commercialization, taking into consideration size profile, consumer taste preference, reduced invertase levels to address acrylamide, and storage management.
Ongoing evaluation, investigation, and analysis of varieties that help expand market access.
Resistance to Colorado Potato Beetle, other insects, and diseases.
Use of technology to better understand abiotic and biotic stress and seed vigor in order to increase resilience in potato production systems.

4. Integrated Management of Soil-, Seed-, and Foliar-Borne Diseases and Post-Harvest Issues

Develop integrated management approaches to reduce vine and tuber rotting in potatoes and improve post-harvest pathogen control and potato handling, including storage pathogen management and storage issues such as new sprout inhibitor development. Specific areas of emphasis include: