Researchers at the University of Maine are trying to produce potatoes that can better withstand warm temperatures as the climate changes.
Warmer temperatures and a prolonged growing season can lead to quality problems and disease, Gregory Porter, professor of ecology and crop management, told the Bangor Daily News.
“Predictions for climate change are more intense rainfall events and potatoes cannot tolerate flooding or wet conditions for long without having other quality problems,” said Porter. “If we want potatoes to continue to grow successfully in Maine, we have to be able to produce varieties that can be resistant to change.”
Research is being carried out around the world aimed at mitigating damage to crops. A NASA study published this month suggested that climate change may affect corn and wheat production, and corn yields are projected to decline while wheat could see potential growth, as early as 2030 under a scenario of high greenhouse gas emissions.
Maine is emerging from a flag potato crop thanks in part to the success of the russet caribou, which was developed by researchers at UMaine. But Porter fears that even that variety is not as heat tolerant as necessary to withstand the future effects of climate change.
Pests are another factor. The Colorado potato beetle and disease-spreading aphids have flourished with the changing climate, said Jim Dill, a pest management specialist with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.
Reproducing seemingly small changes, such as hairier leaves, that make it harder for insects to move through the plant, can reduce pest destruction and also reduce the need for pesticides, he said.
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Improving these characteristics in potatoes is a long process of cross pollination of different varieties of potatoes.
The process is under way.
They are in a research testing phase right now at sites across the United States. Test potatoes in Virginia, North Carolina and Florida are testing high temperature stress.
Researchers try to produce # Climate Change resistant potato.
“It takes 10 years of selection after initial cross-pollination, and it may take two to five years before sufficient commercial evaluation has been carried out to launch a new potato variety,” said Porter.
This story was corrected to show that the NASA study suggests that wheat production could grow, while corn yields could decline, in a scenario of high greenhouse gas emissions.
Reference-www.nationalobserver.com