ISCA TECHNOLOGIES, INC. — Department of Agriculture SBIR Phase I: Potatoes are the fourth most-consumed food crop in the world, after rice, wheat, and corn,

Description

Potatoes are the fourth most-consumed food crop in the world, after rice, wheat, and corn, and the leading vegetable crop in the US. Roughly four-fifths of the harvested potato crop is sold for fresh or processed consumption. Processed potatoes comprise 58 percent of total US potato utilization; from the average of 129 pounds consumed per capita per year, 55 pounds are frozen potatoes, 43 pounds fresh potatoes, 17 pounds are potato chips, and 14 pounds are dehydrated products. Potato production in the US is being challenged by the introduction of this devastating new disease. Zebra Chip produces a characteristic striped pattern of necrosis in affected potato tubers, which appear as burned striations when they are fried as chips. Zebra Chip results in a severe reduction in the productivity of a field, reduced storage life, and rejection of the crop by the processing industry.The results and information acquired from this project will be dispersed to key personnel in the potato industry including growers, universities, government agencies and end-users. The majority of US potato growers farm less than 100 acres, yielding less than $200,000 in yearly farm income. Successful completion of this project will provide potato growers with a valuable tool for managing potato psyllid to reduce the risk of spreading ZC. If labeled organic, REPEL ZC has the potential for use throughout the industry, including those potato farms that cannot or do not use conventional pesticides.