Determining the ability of a novel quantitative PCR assay to detect latent infections of Polyscytalum pustulans and its use as an early indicator of high risk seed

Although the skin spot pathogen may be present on tubers at harvest, symptoms of the disease don't develop until many weeks later by which time controlling the disease is difficult. The aim of this project is to develop a test that will allow reliable, early detection of the skin spot pathogen - providing more opportunity to minimise disease development.

Aim: To determine if DNA-based diagnostics can be developed for Polyscytalum pustulans and can be used to identify stocks with a high risk of developing skin spot.