News on Potato Defects and Diseases

The 58th Idaho Potato Conference will be held Jan. 21–22 in Pocatello, featuring panels, research updates, a trade show and sessions on soil-borne diseases, agronomy, storage and water issues. Registration is USD 40 before Jan. 14.

For India’s French-fry industry, the journey to global excellence begins not in the plant but in the field. Every step - from aerating seed stores to loading trucks - defines the quality that reaches international markets.

A new potato variety, CIP-Asiryq, developed by the International Potato Center and Indigenous farmers in Peru, resists late blight, cuts fungicide use, cooks faster, and boosts farmer income, offering a climate-resilient solution worldwide.

Calantha, a new RNA-based sprayable pesticide, effectively kills Colorado potato beetles while sparing beneficial insects. Most effective on small larvae, it offers a sustainable, targeted solution to combat resistant crop pests.

Excitement builds as we mark one year to the 13th World Potato Congress, set for Oct 26–30, 2026, at Sawela Lodge, Naivasha, Kenya. Keynotes and registration launch in Nov. Stay tuned for updates and sponsorship opportunities!

Project Oppotunity completed the first CRISPR-Cas field trials of starch potatoes bred for late blight resistance, with test plots in Sweden and Denmark. Early results indicate stronger disease resistance and a very promising path to resilient crops.

Seed Potatoes in a Victorian cold storage unit have tested positive for the potato mop-top virus (PMTV).

World Potato Congress Inc. (WPC) will host a webinar, 'Biology and Integrated Management of Potato Common Scab,' October 20, 2025. The speaker is Amanda Gevens, PhD, Professor and Extension Plant Pathologist, University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Australia faces a potato shortage after its toughest season in a decade. Extreme weather in South Australia, the nation’s main potato region, cut yields, causing supermarket shortages. Mitolo Family Farms cites heat, cold, and drought as main factors.

Cornell marks 160 years of potato breeding, creating 50+ varieties—including top U.S. chip potatoes and nematode-resistant strains. Farmer partnerships and USDA support drive innovation, boosting sustainability and the USD 100B U.S. potato industry.

Corteva launches Zorvec Entecta in India, a fungicide for grapes and potatoes, offering long-lasting protection against Downy Mildew and Late Blight. Rain-fast and systemic, it ensures healthy growth, high yields, and sustainable disease management.

Los productores de papa de la Asociación Frutihortícola y Pecuaria de Ybytymí (Paraguarí), que reúne a 205 familias, alertan sobre una plaga que afecta sus cultivos, amenaza la economía campesina y agrava sus deudas.

EUROPLANT marked major anniversaries by raising €20,000 (USD 21,400) for AGUAPAN, a Peruvian initiative preserving potato diversity crucial for breeding, climate resilience, and global food security.

Kenya nears release of '3R' Late Blight-resistant potatoes after 20+ years of research by CIP & KALRO. Supported by 2Blades, Feed the Future & Simplot, the varieties promise higher yields, disease protection, and improved food security by 2026.

A new webpage by the Michigan Potato Industry Commission offers growers tools to identify and manage late blight, featuring pathogen details, outbreak protocols, fungicide advice and links to monitoring organizations.

Renaissance BioScience Corp. secured an Australian patent on Sept 4, 2025, for its yeast-based RNA platform, targeting the Colorado Potato Beetle with eco-friendly biopesticides. It also eyes animal and human health markets.

The James Hutton Institute introduced two PCN-resistant potato varieties, Malaika and Glen, in Kenya. Developed with international partners, they boost yields, support food security, and meet local farmers’ needs for fast-cooking, low-dormancy potatoes.

Potato growers are urged to watch for the Colorado beetle, a pest threatening UK crops. Spot yellow-cream beetles with black stripes or red larvae. Report sightings with photos to APHA or the Scottish Government to protect biosecurity.