Paul Gans - Plant Health Management

Courses and seminars

These one day seminars will be of particular interest to agronomists, farm managers and others who regularly deal with the potato crop and wish to be updated on recent developments.  These are normally held at the St Johns Innovation Centre, St John's Innovation Centre, Cowley Road, Cambridge CB4 0WS.  Discussion amongst participants will be encouraged and the maximum number at each seminar will be restricted to 15. BASIS CPD points will be applied for.

Growing quality ware potatoes

• Skin anatomy and physiology. Skin finish. Quality for domestic use and processing.
• Managing common scab, netted scab, powdery scab, silver scurf, black scurf, black dot and skin spot to produce high quality potatoes.
• Spraing (TRV and PMTV), internal rust spot.

Potato cyst nematode and other soil pests

• The nature of PCN infestations. The limitations of chemical control. Variety resistance. Biological control, trap cropping and other alternatives.
• Other soil pests:  Free living nematodes, wireworm and slugs.

Getting the best from seed

• Seed regulation, viruses and aphids, quarantine diseases.
• Understanding blackleg, powdery scab and fungal blemish diseases in relation to quality seed.
• The physiology of seed tubers and how it affects crop performance.

Keeping the growing crop healthy, new issues with blight, aphids and other diseases which affect the growing crop

• Understanding the significance of "new" blight and mating strains. The nature of blight epidemics. Variety resistance. Decision support systems. Product overview.
• Aphids
• Impact of Rhizoctonia solani and Verticillium dahliae on crop performance.

Bespoke in-house courses

Each module can also be delivered as a single unit and tailored to suit individual needs.

Focus seminar

Book a seminar to focus on a particular issue or group of issues which affect your enterprise.

Call Dr Paul Gans on 01223 212496 or e-mail paul@gansplanthealth.com for more information.