News on Potato Defects and Diseases from the Americas

Researchers at Michigan State University have developed five new potato varieties designed to strengthen the United States potato chip supply through improved disease resistance, storage performance and processing reliability.

A 16-year study by Michigan State University finds heat is the main driver of Colorado potato beetle populations, with precipitation and soil conditions also influencing outbreaks, aiding better pest forecasting and crop protection.

El proyecto Papa Nativa enfrenta el impacto del clima y el aumento de plagas en Huánuco, impulsando medidas fitosanitarias, mejoras en la calidad de semilla y estrategias comerciales para sostener la producción y acceder a nuevos mercados.

El agronegocio brasileño inicia marzo de 2026 con incertidumbre climática y presiones económicas. Lluvias intensas afectan cultivos como la papa, mientras el sector apuesta por eficiencia e innovación.

Researchers at Lethbridge Polytechnic, Alberta, Canada, potatoes are testing if short-wave infrared hyperspectral imaging can be used to assess Total GlycoAlkaloid (TGA) levels in potatoes.

Productores de papa en Costa Rica celebran el rechazo de decenas de contenedores importados por incumplir normas sanitarias y exigen mantener inspecciones estrictas ante el riesgo de plagas y compuestos tóxicos que amenazan al cultivo y a los consumidores.

En Estados Unidos, la FDA avaló la papa Russet Burbank II de J. R. Simplot, una variedad GMO desarrollada con resistencia natural al *Phytophthora infestans*, al considerarla tan segura como las convencionales y capaz de reducir pesticidas y mejorar el almacenamiento.

NAPSO and Spud Smart will host a webinar, 'Mid-Storage Health Check,' on Dec. 17 at 10 a.m. PST. Experts Dr. Sastry Jayanty and Dr. Amanda Gevens will cover CO₂, humidity, airflow, and early detection of storage diseases. Register now.

The World Potato Congress will host a webinar on Dec 10, 2025, where Dr. Christine Noronha shares research showing how crop rotation reduces wireworm damage in potatoes, highlighting her innovative pest management advances and key field results.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Gov. Mills and UMaine leaders reopened the modernized Aroostook Farm after a USD 3 Million upgrade, boosting Maine’s potato research with advanced tech to speed new variety development like the Caribou Russet, supporting jobs and the agri-economy.