Soil-borne diseases and pests pose significant threats to potato crops, reducing tuber formation and affecting overall crop health. Effective strategies for combating these threats include crop rotation, use of resistant potato varieties, and traditionally, chemical treatments. However, numerous trial results and experiences from growers are proving that biological control holds significant potential in potato farming for managing pests and diseases in a safe way. Natural enemies. microbials and beneficial nematodes help suppress pests and diseases without the negative impacts associated with chemical pesticides, such as residues on the crop, pre-harvest intervals and resistance development. Integrating biological control methods into potato production can reduce reliance on synthetic chemicals, conserve natural predators, and promote a healthier agricultural ecosystem.
Increased yields with Trianum
Looking at the complete potato crop cycle, Koppert has seen very positive results that can be highlighted. For targeting soil-borne diseases Trianum, with the unique active ingredient Trichoderma harzianum T22, have continuously proved its effectiveness. Recent trials show clear increased yields due to a high percentage healthy tubers and low disease occurrence. As growth of tubers are influenced by factors such as soil moisture, temperature and nutrient availability, Trianum uniquely enables to plant to maximise its’ resources. Trichoderma harzianum T22 colonizes the root system of the plant and protects the potato plant against soil pathogens, including Rhizoctonia. It creates a barrier around the roots to protect the plant, while competing for food and space. Trianum actively attacks fungal pathogens by breaking down their cell walls. It also increases the plant’s resistance to stress caused by diseases and suboptimal conditions in nutrition, water and climate. Effectively controlling soil-borne pathogens with Trianum can lead to increased yields, as recent trial results showed an average increase of 15,8% in tuber weight.
30% less wireworm damaged tubers in France
Focusing on the rest of the crop cycle, wireworm damage poses a significant economic threat to the global potato industry due to its widespread and persistent impact on crop yields and quality. The presence of wireworms in the soil requires additional management efforts and increases production costs, and as wireworms can persist in fields for several years, their impact can extend across multiple seasons. Casea offers measurable impact to target wireworms effectively, with recent trial results showing an average of 30% less damaged to tubers than the grower standard. Casea contains the beneficial nematode Steinernema carpocapsae. The nematodes are very flexible in terms of temperature window, tolerating both cold and hot temperatures. Nematodes enter the pest and release symbiotic bacteria into the pest's body cavity. These bacteria convert the host tissue into a food source, on which nematodes feed, develop, and reproduce inside the host. This kills the pest within a few hours to days after infection.
A decrease to only 5% potatoes with holes in Italy
Trials in Italy showed an increase in marketable yield of 41 Tons/ha, compared to the grower standard of 40,2 Tons/ha. The strength of Casea also showed in the decrease in wireworm damage at harvest, measured in the percentage of potatoes with holes.
Looking at the field results with Casea, the average wireworm damage shows an outcome of only 5%, compared to the grower standard range of 15%-20%, wireworm damage at harvest.
Biological crop protection holds immense promise for the potato industry. A significant positive return on investment together with no pre-harvest interval and increased yields – that is what it means to be in control with Koppert.