Samples wanted for IDM project: How your paddock could help grow smarter disease defences
Calling Victorian and South Australian potato growers. The University of Western Australia and Western Sydney University are looking to sample crops at flowering/prior to row closure, from late October to November. This sampling is part of the Hort Innovation project An integrated disease management program for the Australian potato industry (PT23002).
Soil and potato plant samples will be collected, along with paddock history and management practice information. This will identify the bacterial and fungal communities present in the soil and associated with crops, to better understand how crops, soil biology and diseases interact (viruses are not included). The results will help develop integrated disease management tools such as predictive models and biological controls.
Participating growers will receive a personalised soil health report comparing their results with local/regional and national averages. All information and data collected will remain confidential.
Industry help is needed to build a clearer picture of soil health and biology on Australian potato farms.
How to get involved
If you, or someone you know, would like to take part, please contact Ryan Hall (ryan.hall@research.uwa.edu.au) or Juntao Wang (Juntao.wang@uwa.edu.au) to arrange sampling.
