• PCN cysts on roots of potato
    Potato Cyst Nematode Hub

    The UK is the 5th largest potato producer and exporter in Europe with an industry worth ~£4.5 billion. Almost 80% of seed potatoes used in Great Britain originate from Scotland. The industry is under threat from potato cyst nematodes (PCN) which have spread across potato growing areas for decades. PCN drastically reduce yields and are incredibly difficult to control. Scottish legislation prevents seed potatoes being grown on land where PCN have been detected to reduce further introductions. However, PCN are already present in almost 21,000 ha of Scottish soils. Recent predictions suggest PCN will cause the end of the Scottish seed potato industry by 2050, potentially only 5 rotations away. If this happens, the UK potato industry will consequently collapse.

  • Cysts on a potato and roots
    Potato Cyst Nematode Hub

    Delivering a sustainable potato industry for Scotland through management of Potato cyst nematode (PCN).

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Work Package 1 - Economics
Significant economic losses from PCN are possible and the costs and benefits of interventions are unclear.
Work Package 2 - Decision Support
Control options for PCN in Scotland are reducing so it is becoming more important to provide growers with support to manage PCN.
Work Package 3 - Resistance marker development and mobilising new resistances
Land infested with PCN is becoming more prevalent and potato breeding could be used to address this problem.
Work Package 4 - Dihaploid induction for accelerated crop improvement
Improvements in potato breeding will help control PCN through the increased availability of resistant varieties.
Work Package 5 - Mechanistic understanding of tolerance to PCN to aid breeding
Tolerance, the ability of a variety to produce a good yield despite the presence of PCN, is not widely understood at a genetic level.
Work Package 6 - Groundkeeper Control
Controlling potato groundkeepers is important because they reduce the effectiveness of rotations for PCN management.
Work Package 7 - Novel IPM tools
The industry will need to look at different approaches such as integrated pest management (IPM) especially if chemical controls for PCN decrease.
Work Package 8 - Knowledge Exchange and Communications
Communicating with stakeholders about the future threat of PCN in Scotland and the management techniques available and under development.
Work Package 9 - Policy
Changes to Scottish Government policy are required to safeguard Scottish land from PCN and create a coordinated control strategy for infested land.

Latest Project Outputs

2023 Trial report front page image
The PCN Action Scotland field trial 2023 report - A field trial investigating the resistance and tolerance characteristics of eight potato varieties to Globodera pallida in Scotland

In 2023 a field trial was established which aimed to provide information on the integrated control of Globodera pallida. This report publishes the results of the field trial planted at Barnyards Farm on 02/05/2022 - a location with a moderate-high PCN population. The trial consisted of 8 potato varieties (Maris Piper, Elland, Eurostar, Buster, Amanda, Karelia, Lanorma,…

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BBC The One Show Logo

PCN Action Scotland Feature on The One Show!

We've been featured on the BBC's the One Show! (01/10/2024)

Our segment with Chef Hasan ‘Big Has’ Semay covers PCN, why its an issue for the potato industry, and resistant varieties!

Watch at: https://bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0023hs8

A big thank you to all project partners and funding received from the Scottish Government.
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2023 trial report front page

The PCN Action Scotland field trial 2023 report - A field trial investigating the resistance and tolerance characteristics of eight potato varieties to Globodera pallida in Scotland

In 2023 a field trial was established which aimed to provide information on the integrated control of Globodera pallida. This report publishes the results of the field trial planted at Barnyards Farm on 02/05/2022 - a location with a moderate-high PCN population. The trial consisted of 8 potato varieties (Maris Piper, Elland, Eurostar, Buster, Amanda, Karelia, Lanorma, and Paradox) with varying levels of resistance to both G. Pallida and G. Rostochiensis. Replicates of each variety were treated with either Nemathorin 10G (30 kg/ha, a.i. Fosthiazate), Velum Prime (0.625 L/ha in furrow a.i. fluopyram), or left untreated.

 

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Our Next Event

potato variety display in field
Barnyards Open Day 2024!
7 Aug 2024, 11am - 3pm

The FINAL PCN open day at Barnyards Farm, Tannadice will be held on the 7th of August 2024!

Click to sign up here!

 

An open day at Barnyards farm in Tannadice, Angus to discuss potato cyst nematodes (PCN) and current field trials investigating new control strategies. Session topics include, but are not limited to:

· Potato variety resistance and tolerance trials

· Oil radish variety trials

· Decision support system updates

· Policy discussions with SASA

· Live sprayer demonstrations targeting groundkeepers

 

There will be two sessions: morning (11-12:30pm) and afternoon (1:30-3pm). For each session there shall be a tour around the oil radish trial site, potato variety demonstration, discussions on the current state of PCN in Scotland, and updates from invited speakers (members of PCN Action Scotland Group) on research being done in the field.

*The afternoon session is a repeat of the morning session so you do not need to sign up for both.