M A R C H 2 0 1 8 22 POTATO GROWER 2018 NPPGA Annual Research And Reporting Conference by Willem Schrage The Northern Plains Potato Growers Association Research Reporting Conference was well attended. It had several speakers from around the regions, who drew the attention of many of the potato industry in North Dakota, Minnesota and Manitoba. The first speaker was Dr. Darrin Haagenson, USDA, who gave storage highlights from the 2017 Chip and Fry Processing Trials at the USDA- ARS Potato Research Worksite in East Grand Forks, Minnesota. He explained the recently introduced use of photovolt reflectance and the differences found between bud and stem end. He also mentioned two numbered clones from the NDSU potato breeding program: ND050032-4Russ and ND060735- 4Russ, because they have shown very good colors compared to Ranger Russet and Russet Burbank. The second speaker, Dr. Andy Robinson, NDSU/UMN, suggested to install the late blight app. from NDAWN Potato Blight, (z.umn.edu/potato app). When this app is accepted they will stop send- ing emails about late blight predic- tions. “The app is based on the data you put in, which will make predic- tions more specified,” Dr. Robinson said. He noted that a more detailed explanation will be in a later Valley Potato Grower magazine. A video will also be available on the NDSU extension website. “Bugs & Spuds: The Battle Continues!” was the topic of Dr. Ian MacRae, UMC, who explained that overwintered Colorado potato bee- tles emerged again over an extended period in 2017. The delayed emerg- ing insects were all susceptible to neonicotinoids, which is explained by the fact that the use of these insecticides results in the selection of later emerging insects. Many insecticides were tried. There is indication that timing makes a difference in efficacy. If you can knock first generation larvae back the results are better. They had beetles collected from Becker, Clearwater & Sabin in Minnesota and Forest River and McCanna in North Dakota. All loca- tions showed tolerance for neoni- cotinoid insecticides. To manage this insecticide resistance, one must reduce selection pressure by rotating the modes of action. About the topic of managing PVY Vectors Dr. Mc Rae noted that in 2017 there had been more vector pressure than 2016 (~10X!) but there had been still a relatively same level of rejection. The Aphid Alert data can be found at: aphidalert.blogspot.com or: Aphidalert.umn.edu. Because not all aphid vectors are cre- ated equal, they have developed a PVY Vector Risk Index: The Green peach aphid (GPA) is the most effi- cient vector, but relative efficiencies of aphids are known. These relative efficiencies are used to calculate the amount of risk in terms of GPA. The Genetic Improvement of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) for the Northern Plains was the topic of Dr. Susie Thompson, NDSU. Her objec- tives are the development of superi- or cultivars and improved genotypes of potato adapted to the Northern Plains region via traditional hybridization. “The program is moving to more tubers per plant,” Dr. Thompson noted. She men- tioned some promising clones: ND8068-5Russ has medium vine size with very early vine maturity, a medium to high yield potential and is dual-purpose. The specific gravity is high. It has good storability with low sugar accumulation and excel- lent frozen processing quality after seven months storage. ND050032-4Russ has a nice shape, medium vine size, medium maturity and gives a medium to high yield potential. It is a dual-purpose vari- ety with medium to high specific gravity. It has shown good storabil- ity with low sugar accumulation and excellent frozen processing quality after seven months storage. A promising yellow flesh clone is ATND99331-2PintoY with a large and vigorous vine, medium maturi- ty and high yield potential. They found a nice tuber type and tuber size profile. One should monitor the tuber size after August 1, but it sets about 10-12 tubers per plant. It