News on Potato Defects and Diseases from Alberta

A team effort led to Alberta being declared Potato Cyst Nematode (PCN) free – improving trade prospects for producers.

For the first time, evidence of the zebra chip pathogen has been found in potato fields in southern Alberta, but the University of Lethbridge’s Dr. Dan Johnson cautions against panic.

In Alberta, late blight occurs infrequently, but can have devastating impacts in the years when it reaches epidemic levels.

Times have changed for Alberta potato growers. Up until four years ago, the province was virtually late blight-free. Lately, wet springs and high humidity — uncharacteristic for this region — have nurtured the growth and spread of the disease.

A concerted effort has begun in Alberta Canada to raise awareness about the nastiness of late blight in tomatoes and potatoes.