International Potato Center

About: International Potato Center is a facility organization based out in Lima, Peru. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Phytophthora infestans. The organization has 1036 authors who have published 1460 publications receiving 47183 citations.

Benchmarking Food Crop Markets in Southern Africa: The Case of Potatoes and Potato Products 1961–2010

Abstract: Pressures and opportunities in food systems across Southern Africa have generated renewed interest in potatoes both as a food crop and a source of income in recent years. With populations growing at over 2.0 %/year in several countries and urban consumers often eager to diversify their diets, new markets are also opening up. Given these trends, growers, traders and governments are seeking out new ways to capitalize on these developments. This paper examines the evolution of growth rates in potato production, utilization and trade in Southern Africa over nearly the last half century using FAO annual secondary data. After highlighting the different roles that potatoes have played in crop diversification across the sub-region, the paper identifies some key issues for future research as well as some opportunities for industry both large and small.

Interlaboratory Comparison Study on Ribodepleted Total RNA High-Throughput Sequencing for Plant Virus Diagnostics and Bioinformatic Competence

Abstract: High-throughput sequencing (HTS) technologies and bioinformatic analyses are of growing interest to be used as a routine diagnostic tool in the field of plant viruses. The reliability of HTS workflows from sample preparation to data analysis and results interpretation for plant virus detection and identification must be evaluated (verified and validated) to approve this tool for diagnostics. Many different extraction methods, library preparation protocols, and sequence and bioinformatic pipelines are available for virus sequence detection. To assess the performance of plant virology diagnostic laboratories in using the HTS of ribosomal RNA depleted total RNA (ribodepleted totRNA) as a diagnostic tool, we carried out an interlaboratory comparison study in which eight participants were required to use the same samples, (RNA) extraction kit, ribosomal RNA depletion kit, and commercial sequencing provider, but also their own bioinformatics pipeline, for analysis. The accuracy of virus detection ranged from 65% to 100%. The false-positive detection rate was very low and was related to the misinterpretation of results as well as to possible cross-contaminations in the lab or sequencing provider. The bioinformatic pipeline used by each laboratory influenced the correct detection of the viruses of this study. The main difficulty was the detection of a novel virus as its sequence was not available in a publicly accessible database at the time. The raw data were reanalysed using Virtool to assess its ability for virus detection. All virus sequences were detected using Virtool in the different pools. This study revealed that the ribodepletion target enrichment for sample preparation is a reliable approach for the detection of plant viruses with different genomes. A significant level of virology expertise is needed to correctly interpret the results. It is also important to improve and complete the reference data.

La Enseñanza del Manejo Integrado de Plagas en el Cultivo de la Papa: La Experiencia del CIP en la Zona Andina del Perú

Abstract: El manejo integrado de plagas (MIP) es considerado como una solucion promisoria para los problemas causados por insectos en los cultivos. Sin embargo, esta tecnologia no ha sido ampliamente adoptada debido a diversos factores tecnicos, socioeconomicos y politicos. Uno de estos factores se refiere al uso de enfoques de capacitacion inapropiados. Este articulo presenta la experiencia del CIP sobre la ensenanza del MIP en la Zona Andina del Peru, a traves de un proceso secuencial y paulatino.Tanto los extensionistas como los investigadores que participaron en este proyecto actuaron como facilitadores del aprendizaje. El proceso se inicio con la identificacion de vacios de conocimiento que tenian los agricultores priorizando la capacitacion de acuerdo a esos vacios y reforzando los conocimientos sobre sus practicas habituales de manejo. Diversas tecnicas de capacitacion convencionales y no convencionales se utilizaron para facilitar el proceso de aprendizaje. Las experiencias ensenaron que para que el MIP funcione, no solo requiere de la integracion de metodos de control, sino tambien de la integracion con el manejo de la finca, el conocimiento campesino y el conocimiento tecnico de la comunidad con organizaciones de investigacion y extension, y de politicas que apoyen su difusion.Aceptado para publicacion: agosto 1997.

First Report of Beet pseudo-yellows virus and Strawberry pallidosis associated virus in Strawberry in Peru

Abstract: During a 2006 survey for the presence of criniviruses in Peru, large numbers of greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum) were observed infesting strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) fields near Huaral on the central coast of Peru. Plants exhibited a wide range of symptoms including stunting and reddening of leaves. These symptoms are characteristic of those induced by the presence of the criniviruses Beet pseudo-yellows virus (BPYV) and/or Strawberry pallidosis associated virus (SPaV) together with any of a number of different strawberry-infecting viruses (1,3). The virus complex causes older leaves to develop a red color, vein and petiole reddening, roots become stunted, and plants fail to develop. Leaf samples with varying symptoms were collected from 22 plants from 2 fields, each planted with a different cultivar. Total nucleic acid was extracted, spotted onto positively charged nylon membranes, and tested by hybridization with probes specific to the minor coat protein (CPm) gene of BPYV (2) and coat protein (CP) gene of SPaV (4). Results identified the presence of BPYV, SPaV, or both viruses in mixed infections in symptomatic strawberry, while control plants were infected with each virus individually. No signal was detected in virus-free strawberry. Secondary confirmation was obtained using probes specific to the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) genes of SPaV and BPYV. The SPaV probe corresponded to nucleotides 6116-6599 of SPaV RNA1 (GenBank Accession No. NC_005895), whereas the BPYV probe corresponded to nucleotides 6076-6447 of BPYV RNA1 (GenBank Accession No. NC_005209). All probes were generated by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplification using sequence-specific primers, cloning of RT-PCR products into pGEM-T Easy (Promega, Madison, WI), confirmation by sequencing, and expression as digoxygenin-labeled transcript probes (Roche, Indianapolis, IN). Field 1, containing cv. Fern Sancho, had the largest number of symptomatic and infected plants (5 of 12 BPYV, 6 of 12 SPaV, and 4 of 12 with both). Only 1 of 10 plants from field 2 containing cv. Tajo Holandesa was infected, but with both SPaV and BPYV. BPYV and SPaV are transmitted by the greenhouse whitefly (T. vaporariorum), although BPYV is transmitted much more efficiently and has a broader host range than SPaV (4). Movement of these viruses in Peru is likely a result of both propagation by runners and vector transmission. To our knowledge, this is the first report of either virus in Peru. References: R. R Martin and I. E. Tzanetakis. Plant Dis. 90:384, 2006. (2) I. E. Tzanetakis and R. R. Martin. Plant Dis. 88:223, 2004. (3) I. E. Tzanetakis et al. Plant Dis. 87:1398, 2003. (4) I. E. Tzanetakis et al. Plant Dis. 90:1343, 2006.

Control microbiano de la palomilla de la papa Phthorimaea operculella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

Abstract: The natural occurrence of specific pathogens and biopesticides applied in an inundative fashion can contribute significantly to control of the potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella. Most of the research conducted and practices used for control of P. operculella use one species of granulovirus and the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). The P. operculella granulovirus (PhopGV) has the potential to play a significant role in the integrated management of the pest in stored tubers as well as in field crops. At the same time, Bt has been used successfully against P. operculella infestations in the field and in stored tubers. PhopGV and Bt are safe for application personnel and for the food products; in addition, they do not affect beneficial insects and other nontarget organisms. Other natural insecticides are the biofumigant fungus Muscodor albus, botanicals, sex pheromones and physical measures for P. operculella control in stored tubers. The implementation of biopesticides will ultimately depend on an increased awareness of their attributes by growers and the public, who will be the main drivers for their use and commercialization.