With late blight causing many problems in potato crops in 2007, visitors to this week's Potatoes in Practice at Dundee will be able to hear and see how extensive research in Scotland is continuing to tackle this major problem.

Potato blight is still the most important potato disease is the world and despite many advances continues to cause considerable difficulties for UK farmers.

Although faced with a difficult year in 2007, developments in host resistance and fungicide control measures mean that potato blight is usually no longer the disaster it was in the past, researchers (plant pathologists and geneticists) from SCRI and SAC continue the search for better control solutions. Their research, funded by the EU, the Scottish Executive, BPC, agrochemical companies and others, includes identifying novel host resistance, breeding new resistant varieties, understanding how to optimise blight control using fungicides, improving knowledge of the potato blight, and contributing to the BPC "Fight against Blight" programme.

SAC and SCRI scientists will be on hand at Potatoes in Practice to discuss their research on blight and other research (see below) with visitors to the event.

NOTE:

Potatoes in Practice Potatoes in Practice is Britain's premier field-based event dedicated to the potato industry. It offers a unique opportunity for farmers, advisers and others to view the latest government and industry- supported research at a single site. The event is hosted by SCRI, SAC, CSC PotatoCare and BPC and supported by Potato Review. Anyone interested should attend between 9:30am - 4:30pm at SCRI's Gourdie Farm, Liff, Dundee DD2 5NA.

This free event will offer attendees four different areas of interest.

1. Field trials

* Meeting industry priorities including:
* matching varieties to fields
* agronomy for new varieties
* herbicide demonstrations
* fertiliser demonstrations
* mustard and radish biological benefits
* common scab control
* potato breeding
* black dot and Rhizoctonia control
* new variety demonstrations.

2. Seminar presentations. Topics include:

* PCN control
* Blackleg
* Environmental pressures on the potato supply chain

3. Marquee exhibits

* BPC, SCRI, SAC and SASA experts will be present explaining their latest research and products. There will also be a host of industry-leading companies show-casing the latest products, research and services.

4. Outdoor machinery displays

* Machinery dealers and manufacturers will display the latest models and technology.

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