Powdery scab situation
Potato production in Pennsylvania brings in $40 million a year, ranking 13th in the nation. Nearly 70 percent
of the 20,000 acres of potatoes in the state are grown for chipping. Pennsylvania is number one in the nation
in potato chip production, turning out about $57 million worth of potato chips annually.
But Pennsylvania's potato growers face a lot of difficulties. Traditional potato varieties don't
hold up well to the state's environment and weather. Few of them store well at low temperatures while
retaining the quality needed for processing. These varieties also are susceptible to the Colorado potato
beetle and diseases such as powdery scab and early blight.
Since 1988, Penn State's potato research program has worked with other universities to jointly release
three potato varieties and help document two additional ones. These new varieties grow well in Pennsylvania's
climate and are ideal for chip processing. They also resist early and late blight and are only somewhat
susceptible to other diseases such as powdery scab.
Research
See e.g. 'potatohealth.cas.psu.edu/ChemControl/seedtreat01.html' or
'potatohealth.cas.psu.edu/Disease/pwdscab.html'.
Contact address:
Barbara J. Christ
Penn State University
405 Buckhout Lab
University Park, PA 16802
USA
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Last update: January, 2025