Could 'super potatoes' save the tattie industry?

Could 'super potatoes' save the tattie industry? A major scientific breakthrough could halt a devastating pest and save the Scottish potato industry from collapse. In recent years, the Scottish potato industry has faced a significant threat due to the presence of a devastating pest known as the potato cyst nematode. This microscopic worm-like organism is responsible for causing significant damage to potato crops, leading to substantial financial losses for farmers and threatening the sustainability of the industry as a whole. However, there may be hope on the horizon. Scientists at the James Hutton Institute in Dundee have announced a potentially groundbreaking solution - the development of "super potatoes" that have been bred to be resistant to the potato cyst nematode. This could offer a lifeline to the struggling tattie industry and allow farmers to protect their crops from this destructive pest. The research team at the James Hutton Institute used a process called genomics to identify specific genes within the potato plant that provide resistance to the potato cyst nematode. By breeding potatoes with these resistant genes, they were able to create a new variety of potato that offers natural protection against the pest. In laboratory tests, the "super potatoes" showed a high level of resistance to the potato cyst nematode, significantly reducing the damage caused to the crop. This is a promising result that suggests these specially bred potatoes could provide an effective solution to the industry's nematode problem. The potato cyst nematode can survive in the soil for many years, making