Powdery scab situation
The disease is generally becoming more 'visible' in North America (see Hutchison &
Kawchuk, 1998) but because of
marketing concerns there is a lack of shared information about the problem. There is considerable
competition between the seed-producing areas for markets,
and any new disease is certainly
perceived as a threat, not necessarily because of the disease itself, but because it can be used
as a marketing tool by unaffected areas.
A big issue started when the Potato Mop Top virus was found for the first time in 2002, Maine, USA, and Canada with his main potato production on the Prince Eduard Island, also for export, was accused to be the source.
Research
Some basic research has been initiated (establishing a disease nursery, soil tests).
Contact address:
Jill Thomson
Plant Pathologist
Department of Plant Sciences
University of Saskatchewan
51 Campus Drive
Saskatoon, SK
S7N 5A8
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Last update: January, 2025