{"id":480,"date":"2025-08-25T16:31:35","date_gmt":"2025-08-25T16:31:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eurageng.eu\/?p=480"},"modified":"2025-08-30T16:34:39","modified_gmt":"2025-08-30T16:34:39","slug":"potato-pest-management-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eurageng.eu\/?p=480","title":{"rendered":"Potato Pest Management Project"},"content":{"rendered":"

A project which aims to revolutionise pest management strategies has been supported by the\u00a0UK Agri-Tech Centre<\/a>\u00a0following a two-year journey.<\/p>\n

The aim of the project, named \u2018DeCyst\u2019, was to improve on the current knowledge of solanaceous trap crops and how they are best utilised for Potato Cyst Nematodes (PCN) control by potato growers in the UK.<\/p>\n

Among the challenges faced by potato farmers, PCN stand out as a major issue, causing significant losses across the UK.<\/p>\n

To address this threat, the groundbreaking DeCyst initiative, backed by\u00a0Defra<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Innovate UK<\/a>, delved into the realm of trap cropping, with an aim to revolutionise pest management strategies.<\/p>\n

A consortium of project collaborators including the UK Agri-Tech Centre,\u00a0Produce Solutions<\/a>,\u00a0Harper Adams University<\/a>, and\u00a0VCS Potatoes<\/a>, alongside several progressive potato growers, worked together to refine and optimise trap cropping practices, with the goal of unlocking the full potential of\u00a0DeCyst\u2122\u00a0solanaceous trap crops, specially tailored to outmanoeuvre PCN infestations.<\/p>\n

The Effect of PCN<\/strong><\/p>\n

Trap cropping, a technique involving the strategic planting of certain crops to divert PCN away from potatoes, has gained attention as a potential solution.<\/p>\n

By stimulating PCN to hatch at a different point in the rotation,\u00a0mature female nematodes are prevented from completing their lifecycle, thereby reducing their impact on potato crops.<\/p>\n

Dr Alex McCormack, Innovation Lead \u2013 Agronomy, at UK Agri-Tech Centre, said: \u201cIt\u2019s been a great few years working with the DeCyst consortium advancing our knowledge and understanding of how to get the best out of Solanaceous Trap Crops (STCs).<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve particularly enjoyed seeing how engaged the wider industry has been in the project, with growers and agronomists engaging in useful discussions at the many demonstration events and presentations at trade shows over the last few years.<\/p>\n

\u201cPersonally, it\u2019s also been great to continue to be involved in this sort of applied research and to work with old friends and some new ones along the way.<\/p>\n

\u201cGoing forward it\u2019s now a question of how we can continue to build on this project\u2019s successes, alongside looking at other complimentary tools to manage pests and diseases like PCN.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr Matthew Back, Reader in Nematology at Harper Adams University, said: \u201cPCN is the most prevalent potato pest in the UK.<\/p>\n

\u201cHigh populations of PCN can cause yield losses of up to 80% in susceptible cultivars, with an estimated annual cost to the Great British potato industry of \u00a331 million each year.<\/p>\n

\u201cMoreover, PCN threatens the continued production of seed due to its continued spread in Scotland.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs crop protection chemistry such as nematicides are revoked, and control measures limited, growers have to investigate alternative methods such as trap crops, to ensure a viable future for potatoes within their rotations.\u201d<\/p>\n

Central to the project\u2019s success is the evaluation of three solanaceous trap crops \u2013 solanum sisymbriifolium (DeCyst-Prickly), solanum scabrum (DeCyst-Broadleaf), and solanum chenopodioides (DeCyst-Podium).<\/p>\n

Through systematic testing and analysis,\u00a0researchers aim to identify the most effective species and develop precise agronomic guidelines for optimal PCN suppression.<\/p>\n

James Lee, Head of Agronomy at Produce Solutions, said: \u201cWe need all the tools available to us to control PCN, particularly if we lose any further nematicide options.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdoption of solanaceous trap crops could mean an increase in resilience and the maintenance of productivity for the UK potato industry.<\/p>\n

\u201cAn additional benefit is that they add organic matter and can increase carbon storage if they are chopped and incorporated into the soil.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is especially important given the move to more regenerative farming systems and emerging carbon markets.\u201d<\/p>\n

For more information about the work the UK Agri-Tech Centre does and the partners it works with, visit\u00a0www.ukagritechcentre.com<\/a><\/p>\n

To hear from the experts, watch the video at\u00a0https:\/\/bit.ly\/decystproject<\/a><\/p>\n

Related news:<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe UK Agri-Tech Centre has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), through its Institu\u2026\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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A project which aims to revolutionise pest management strategies has been supported by the\u00a0UK Agri-Tech Centre\u00a0following a two-year journey. The aim of the project, named \u2018DeCyst\u2019, was to improve on the current knowledge of solanaceous trap crops and how they are best utilised for Potato Cyst Nematodes (PCN) control by potato growers in the UK. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":477,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"vkexunit_cta_each_option":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[60],"class_list":["post-480","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-the-uk-agri-tech-centre"],"yoast_head":"\nPotato Pest Management Project - The European Society of Agricultural Engineers<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/eurageng.eu\/?p=480\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Potato Pest Management Project - The European Society of Agricultural Engineers\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A project which aims to revolutionise pest management strategies has been supported by the\u00a0UK Agri-Tech Centre\u00a0following a two-year journey. 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