Potato Cyst Nematodes in Scotland and Their Impact from Farm to Fork

Abstract

Abstract Potato cyst nematodes (PCN) are parasitic roundworms that cause unsustainable global crop loss in Solanaceous species. In Scotland, these pathogens threaten seed potato production which is both a key export for the country and the backbone of the UK potato industry. PCN are routinely controlled by host resistance genes which have been discovered for the main species of PCN in the UK. However, when market preferences request genotypes without resistance, PCN populations can thrive. Other promising control strategies exist but are not always applied in Scotland due to differing climate and agronomic practices. There are numerous implications for PCN presence in potato-growing land both during cultivation and within crop rotations. For example, if PCN are detected in statutory field testing, seed potatoes cannot be grown in that land, this results in reduced seed availability and increased grower costs if PCN-free land must be rented. Ultimately these increased grower costs will result in failure for businesses or will be distributed to the consumer through the supply chain. This case study aims to dissect the issues surrounding control of PCN in Scotland, highlighting the impact PCN have on the production line, from planting to consuming potatoes and potato products. Information © The Authors 2023