Wet weather is once again favouring blackleg development in Scottish seed potato crops, although disease levels are believed currently to be below the record levels seen in 2011.
Blackleg incidence in last year’s crops was the highest seen in two decades, with 10 per cent of Scottish seed crops ultimately downgraded or rejected as a result of infection with the pectobacterium bacteria which causes the disease.
Dr Kevin O’Donnell, head of rural scientific services at SASA (Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture), said 2012 seed potato crop downgrades as a result of blackleg were at about half the level seen last season. The testing programme was 50 per cent complete as of August 9.
