New, practical flyers on late blight control available

Late blight in potato, caused by Phytophthora infestans, is still one of the largest threats to potato cultivation. Not only in the Netherlands, but worldwide. The Potato Case Study team of the EU ENDURE programme estimates the total costs of late blight as result of yield loss and (fungus) control at around € 4 billion worldwide. Because half of these costs are made in Europe, the ENDURE Potato Case Study team investigated significance, efficacy and attainability of new Phytophthora infestans control measures in Europe.

The study resulted in four flyers with scientifically based and applicable recommendations for advisors and growers.

• Reducing Primary Inoculum Sources of Late Blight: The first step in an integrated control strategy against late blight is a reduction of the primary inoculum sources. This flyer describes the major sources and methods to contain the risks.
• Using Decision Support Systems to Combat Late Blight: Investigates the use of  Decision Support Systems (DSS). These systems integrate all relevant information required for preparation of spraying recommendations and much is to be won with a wider application of these recommendations.
• Fungicides for tackling late blight: Fungicides play a crucial role in the integrated control of late blight. Integrated disease control strategies are based on a balanced combination of a number of properties such as effectiveness and side effects as well as economic and social factors.
• Using Cultivar Resistance to Reduce Fungicide Inputs Against Late Blight: Resistance of a variety against late blight offers the potential to use less fungicides. Both partial resistance (lower susceptibility) and fungicides can slow down the development of late blight.

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