News on Potato Defects and Diseases from Germany

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Reed glasswinged leafhopper on a potato leaf – the spreading pest at the center of new calls by Germany’s potato sector for intensified research and coordinated control strategies.
January 13, 2026
Germany’s Potato Industry Calls for Urgent Research as Leafhopper Pest Threatens Crop Resilience
Germany’s potato industry calls for urgent research and coordinated measures against the spreading reed glasswinged leafhopper to protect cultivation, jobs, and regional economic strength.
Dr. Justus Böhm, Managing Director of EUROPLANT, presents a €20,000 donation to AGUAPAN, a Peruvian initiative dedicated to preserving potato biodiversity and supporting local farming communities in the Andes.
September 17, 2025
EUROPLANT supports AGUAPAN to Preserve Potato Biodiversity and Support Climate-Resilient Breeding
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.
The potato is an important crop plant, shown here with (left) and without (right) virus infection. Photo: Sara Fišer, NIB, Ljubljana (CC BY-NC-SA)
August 13, 2025
Researchers Develop a Genome Model to Boost Potato Stress Tolerance and Yield
Researchers from the Universities of Potsdam and Erlangen, the Max Planck Institute and the National Institute of Biology in Ljubljana developed Potato-GEM, a genome-scale metabolic model to study growth–defense trade-offs in crops.
Small group 1 during the practical part of the ‘Potato Specialist’ training course with Max Schümann (left) and Ariane Weiß (right)
July 02, 2025
DKHV Kicks Off 'Potato Specialist' Training: Theory Meets Practice in Lüneburg, Germany
The DKHV launched its 'Potato Specialist' training in Lüneburg Heath. Over 3 days, 46 participants explored potato botany, cultivation, plant protection, and quality standards through expert lectures and hands-on sessions. Next module is in autumn.
Potatoes on hand
April 21, 2025
European potato genome: small gene pool with large differences
A research team has decoded the genome of historic potato cultivars and used this resource to develop an efficient method for analysis of hundreds of additional potato genomes.
Phytophthora infestans on potato leaf and stems
April 17, 2024
Potato farming in Europe – Late Blight crisis in the making
It is not easy to be a potato farmer in Europe these days, and it may get even worse: To maintain the harvest, farmers need a sufficient number of highly efficient fungicides to cover a spray scheme for control of Late Blight (Phytophthora infestans).
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The Crop Trust and CIP Announce New Disease-Proof Potato.
December 01, 2021
The Crop Trust and CIP Announce New Disease-Proof Potato
The Crop Trust and the International Potato Center (CIP) are announcing the release of a new disease-resistant potato called CIP-Matilde.
Albert Schirring, Strategy Lead Vegetables & Potato, Bayer AG
March 24, 2021
World Potato Congress Webinar: 'Late Blight: 175 years of experience. What have we learned? An update.' by Albert Schirring
The World Potato Congress is very pleased to present its next webinar on Wednesday, March 31, 2021 with Albert Schirring, Strategy Lead Vegetables & Potato, Bayer AG.
The plant on the left is untreated and the fungi are clearly visible. The right plant was treated with the acid, the fungus could not cause any damage.
September 25, 2020
Researchers find new way to protect plants from fungal infection
Widespread fungal disease in plants can be controlled with a commercially available chemical that has been primarily used in medicine until now. This discovery was made by scientists from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) and the University of the State of Paraná in Brazil.
Solana presents new registrations at Weuthen Kartoffeltag and Potato Europe. Above the Solana booth at Potato Europe 2018
August 26, 2019
New German Potato Variety 'Lea' is suitable for both conventional and organic farming
The Solana Group's stand at last year's Potato Europe at Gut Bockerode, Germany, Breeder and seed supplier Solana GmbH & Co. will use the upcoming potato fairs to introduce a total of three new table potatoes.
Old, dried up, green or strongly sprouting potatoes, as well as potato peels as snacks consisting mainly of potato peelings, are not suitable for consumption.
April 27, 2018
Glycoalkaloids in Potatoes: Sort out Green and excessively Sprouted Tubers
Following a case of poisoning caused by a potato dish, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) is reminding people about the correct handling of potatoes.
From the archive
By analysing potato production data, information systems specialist Professor Wolfgang Maaß and his team want to help farmers and food companies identify potential benefits and optimize their processes. (Courtesy: Oliver Dietze)
March 28, 2018
Unleashing AI and Big Data on Potatoes - from Mud to French Fries
By analysing potato production data, information systems specialist Professor Wolfgang Maaß and his team want to help farmers and food companies identify potential benefits and optimize their processes.
From the archive
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Agrico presents ‘the next generation of potatoes’ at Fruit Logistica in Berlin
February 11, 2018
Agrico presents ‘the next generation of potatoes’ at Fruit Logistica in Berlin
Agrico presented its new generation potato varieties with high resistance to late blight (Phytophthora Infestans) at Fruit Logistica. On the first day of the fair, General Manager Jan van Hoogen explained the meaning of these new varieties.
From the archive
A potato plant (variety 'Doré') affected by potato blight (Phytophthora infestans)
December 18, 2017
New insights in attack mechanism Potato Blight open the door to biological protection
Identification of the receptor for Cytolisin - the killer toxin of Phytophthora infestans - opens door to biological methods to protect potatoes and selective, biological herbicides as alternative for glyphosate
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ARN de interferencia para combatir al escarabajo de la papa
March 16, 2015
ARN de interferencia para combatir al escarabajo de la papa
Investigadores del Instituto Max Planck desarrollan papas resistentes al escarabajo de la papa usando la tecnología de ARN de interferencia.
From the archive
Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata): On average 40 to 50 cm2 of leaf material are eaten by each of the beetles’ larvae. Infestation with Colorado potato beetles can result in crop losses up to 50 per cent, if there is no pest control (Cou
March 08, 2015
Research: Fighting the Colorado Potato Beetle with RNA
Colorado potato beetles are a dreaded pest of potatoes all over the world. Now, scientists from the Max Planck Institutes of Molecular Plant Physiology in Potsdam-Golm and Chemical Ecology in Jena have shown that potato plants can be protected from herbivory using RNA interference (RNAi).
From the archive
Per Capita food losses and waste at consumption and pre-consumption stages
February 05, 2014
DuPont highlights Food Chain Collaboration at Fruit Logistica
At the 2014 Fruit Logistica event, being held in Berlin from 5-7 February, DuPont Food Chain Manager for the EMEA region, Mr Luigi Coffano, highlighted the challenges faced by a world population that is growing by 150,000 people every day.
From the archive
Identificado el hongo asesino de un millón de personas
May 21, 2013
“Whodunnit” of Irish potato famine solved
An international team of scientists reveals that a unique strain of potato blight they call HERB-1 triggered the Irish potato famine of the mid-nineteenth century
From the archive

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