Growers are already working with our improved varieties, such as Innovator, the fries variety with Pallida resistance (potato fatigue - AM). The high-yield traditional variety Allison is also completely resistant to potato fatigue. During the Potato days in 2018 and 2019, we presented eight new promising (candidate) varieties with AM-resistance for both ABC and DE. One example is Alcander (Crisps) as well as the young fries variety Cardyma, which offers resistance to diverse forms of wart disease. Recently, new Phytophthora resistant varieties such as Muse (Retail Fresh) have also been introduced.
Like many other varieties that are being introduced to the market, these Phytophthora resistant varieties have just one ‘lock’ on the door, i.e. a resistant gene. However, we are striving to realise our target in 2030 of ensuring all varieties have at least two resistant genes, ensuring that their resistance is harder to crack.
As well as AM and Phytophthora (late blight), there are increasing problems with PVY, Fusarium and Black scurf. These diseases can be tackled effectively using chemicals. However, the use of these chemicals does not offer any certainty for the future. That is why we must develop new varieties that are resistant or tolerant to these diseases. There are tests for PVY and Fusarium so we can change tack quite rapidly, however, very little is known about Black scurf tolerance or resistance.