Potato Review

www.potatoreview.com POTATO REVIEW JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 41 BIOSTIMULANTS indicated by the Hutton Criteria,” he said. Simon believes bioactive solutions, such as ERL-32, are part of the changing, universal approach to growing potatoes, and other crops in which tailored programmes can be developed for each grower’s crop. “We’re providing full-life programmes for crops relative to not only the soil and the soil conditions in which that crop is being grown, but also programmes specific to the variety and the objectives of the grower,” he said. The NASPA trial Dr Radek Braganca, who has been managing the trial, explains the project’s initial phase included evaluating 40 bioactive control products, with the 15 most effective compounds then being selected for field trials in 2019. “The potato crops in the trial were given a basic fertiliser mix, based on a standard soil analysis, before being treated with an application of one of the chosen compounds,” he says. “The bioactive compounds were tested alongside the industry’s standard blight treatment, mancozeb, and their performance was also measured against a control plot that just had water applied,” Radek said. Simon said this initial trial found that ERL-32 gave the best induced resistance to blight (strain Pink 6 A2 and related strains), with the crop showing less than 1% blight infection. Trials are due to be repeated and extended with further new biostimulant formulations in 2020. “The data suggests that growers may be able to reduce the amount of pesticides that they currently use to control blight by improving the health and engaging the natural defence mechanisms of the potato plant.” Working with nature Simon noted that the outcome of this trial highlights the many benefits that biostimulants, such as ERL-32, offer potato growers. “Firstly, there are no spray or harvest intervals with this compound, and it’s safe for both growers and the environment. It also offers a wide range of benefits to the crop itself in terms of inducing a more robust, vigorous and healthy plant. “In turn, this means the crop will be growing to its maximum ability and that it’s able to achieve the cropping potential that we are seeking rather than some lower figure,” he said. The results are good news to growers who continue to face evermore virulent strains of potato blight. Further solutions to the disease could be in store for the sector as Simon reveals that ERL-32 is one of many organic molecules that Emerald Research is evaluating with Bangor University and through projects with other UK and European research organisations. “I believe that it’s important that we move towards a future where we start using nature to work for us, rather than trying to defeat it,” he said. “We’re focusing on the investigation and development of new bioactive compounds from sustainable and natural sources. These have the potential to stimulate natural biochemical activities in potato crops such as improved rooting and tuber numbers, greater yield and resistance to disease.”