A new interactive tool that will allow users to see the impact of different potato varieties, cover crops and the use of nematicides (chemicals used in nematode management) on field scenarios has been launched by PCN Action Scotland, a five-year, Scottish Government-funded project that includes partners from The James Hutton Institute, SAC Consulting (SRUC), Scottish Agronomy, SoilEssentials, BIOSS, the Plant Health Centre, and SASA.
Release of the Potato Cyst Nematode (PCN) decision support system (PCN-SP) marks a significant milestone in the fight against one of the most persistent threats to the UK’s potato industry. It has been designed using Scottish and UK field data to manage PCN more effectively and sustainably. It is free, accessible, up-to-date, and easy to use, and will help growers make informed decisions about variety selection, nematicide use, and rotation planning.
An estimated 41% of Scottish ware potato land, that is potatoes grown specially for human consumption, as distinct from seed potatoes or those used for industrial processing, is infected with PCN. This infection reduces yield and income for growers, and also poses a threat for further spreading of PCN.
While legislation preventing seed potato cultivation on affected land is in place to reduce further spread of PCN, the threat to the industry is existential if management practices such as a shift to resistant varieties are not taken.
Speaking about PCN-SP, Dr James Price, Plant Nematologist at the Hutton said: “Key to managing PCN infection is choosing a potato variety with resistance. The PCN-SP allows users to carry out digital trials, viewing the effect of varietal choice on PCN populations and the impact on yield. This model represents the most up to date decision support tool for PCN management allowing growers to see how much their choice in potato variety matters.”
Dr Kerry Leslie, Potato Consultant at SAC Consulting, said: “Having access to an in-depth tool like the PCN-SP allows growers, alongside their agronomists and consultants, to quickly and effectively take the PCN scenario they face in a field and assess ways to improve on the problem in an easy, visual way. This is a step forward for PCN management primarily for Scotland but applicable for the whole of the UK.”
PCN Action Scotland, now in its final year, was established in response to the growing crisis posed by PCN, microscopic soil-borne pests that drastically reduce potato yields and are notoriously difficult to control.
Previously, growers used the AHDB PCN Calculator, an industry staple for many years, but a new robust decision support system, tailored to Scottish conditions using modern data and incorporating contemporary varieties, was seen as necessary to support the aims of PCN Action Scotland.
As PCN management becomes more complex, growers need a system that reflects current science, local conditions, and economic realities. The new PCN-SP, designed and built by SoilEssentials, addresses these gaps by incorporating field trial data, produced by PCN Action Scotland at Barnyards farm in Angus, with grower feedback and advanced modelling techniques.
The PCN-SP will be officially launched at a British Potato 2025 seminar on Wednesday 19th November. Registration for this prestigious event, that sees the entire potato industry gather every two years, can be found here Online Registration
PCN Action Scotland will be hosting a public project completion meeting following the conclusion of multi-year field trials and policy consultation on 18th March 2026, at the Hutton’s Invergowrie campus. Registration for this event can be found here https://tinyurl.com/mtfjwxbw