Effective exclusion of target pathogens requires accurate molecular detection tests to assure quality control when potato tubers are moved. There is an underserved market of early adopter and innovative potato producers interested in more effective measurement and management of potato diseases, as demonstrated by successful grower participation in our 2022 Mail-Away PVY Test project. These growers seek information about potato crop health beyond the base certification minimums, to assure final product quality and for “keeping the nest clean.” Currently, the potato industry lacks a unified and validated high throughput workflow for simultaneous molecular detection of several pathogen groups such as fungi, oomycetes, viruses, and bacteria. In this talk, we will discuss our vision on how transitioning to a high throughput molecular based detection workflow will increase the industry’s capacity to respond rapidly to existing and emerging potato pathogens.
Chakradhar Mattupalli, Assistant Professor, Washington State University
Don Sklarczyk, Chair, Vision 2026 Seed Certification, Sklarczyk Seed Farm LLC