Application for field trial disease resistant potato in UK

25 August 2006

According to an article in the Dutch daily NRC dated August 24th, a field trial permit has been applied for in the UK, concerning genetically modified potato plants that should no langer be subject to late potato blight. This disease is caused by a fungus calles Phytophthora infestans. Potatoes from affected plants rot away and smell. Natural resistance in Andes wild relatives could not be bred into commercial varieties through conventional plant breeding techniques. This disease can have serious effects. Reportedly the situation in Ireland once was so bad as a result of failing potato harvests that a great many people had to emigrate elsewhere. According to some, this disease is the reason that more Irish are currently living in the US than in Ireland itself. Nowadays, crop protection consists of spraying fungicides to prevent disease. The applying party hopes to market the new potato varieties within 10 years time.
If application of fungicides against Phytophthora would no longer be needed during conventional large scale potato growing, this would benefit the environment. Still, there is oposition against these British trials before they have even started.

source: NRC daily 24 August 2006