November/December 2021 - 36

quarantined pest in Idaho. It is a major
threat to the Idaho potato industry
as it has potential to cause up to 80%
yield loss if left uncontrolled. Growers
with infested fields are losing profit
because they cannot plant potatoes
until PCN is deemed fully eradicated
and their fields undergo the extensive
deregulation process.
PCN eggs can survive dormant in
cysts in the soil for 20 to 30 years and
will only hatch in the presence of a
hatching stimulus typically released by
a host plant, which makes eradication
challenging. Soil fumigation has been
the primary method of control, but
fumigants are becoming more and more
restricted or banned altogether due to
environmental concerns.
My goal is to investigate trap crops
and crop rotation as alternative more
sustainable control strategies for PCN.
A trap crop for PCN must release a
hatching stimulus that causes eggs to
hatch but then prevents PCN from
infecting and developing in the roots.
Previous research has shown Solanum
sisymbriifolium, litchi tomato to be an
effective trap crop in reducing PCN,
however, it does not produce a valuable
yield and growers are concerned it may
become a noxious weed. It is worthwhile
to investigate trap crop potential of
other crops, especially those that may
have commercial value.
We are assessing trap crop potential
of several other solanaceous species as
well as quinoa, which has been shown
to be a nonhost causing PCN hatch.
Our objectives are also to evaluate the
impact and feasibility of litchi tomato
and quinoa on populations of PCN over
time in both greenhouse and Idaho field
conditions.
Three-year crop rotations with this
trap crop and the partially resistant
potato variety Innovato " are also
being assessed. If litchi tomato and
quinoa are successful in significantly
reducing PCN populations in the field,
they can be recommended to growers
with PCN-infested acreage. Ideally,
this project would establish more
sustainable strategies for use in an
integrated management approach to the
eradication of the pale cyst nematode.
Thilani Jayakody
Bio: I am entering my fourth year of
a Ph.D. in the Plant Breeding, Genetics
and Biotechnology at Michigan State
University under David Douches. I have
a bachelor's degree from Michigan State
as an honors student majoring in plant
biology with an additional major in
genomics and molecular genetics and
a minor in plant, animal and microbial
biotechnology.
Have You Heard?
Podcast Just for Potato Growers
Join Zeke Jennings, editor of Spudman, as he talks with growers about
their successes, challenges and life on the farm and in the field.
Subscribe at spudman.com/signup today!
New episodes posted every other week at www.spudman.com/podcasts,
and available on all podcast platforms.
Don't miss a single episode!
Want to chat with Zeke on The Potato Field? Email spudedit@spudman.com to participate in an upcoming episode.
34
Spudman.com

http://www.spudman.com/podcasts http://www.spudman.com/signup http://www.Spudman.com

November/December 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November/December 2021