Subventions et des contributions :

Subvention ou bourse octroyée s'appliquant à plus d'un exercice financier (2017-2018 à 2018-2019).

Prince Edward Island (PEI) Potato Board represents more than 200 potato growers in the province, andx000D
represents the interests of the PEI potato industry to various levels of government. PEI potato growers havex000D
been experiencing significant problems with understanding the factors that affect potato yield and diseasex000D
development. Despite significant efforts, little is conclusively known about how soil biological and physicalx000D
characteristics are linked to high and low potato yields. In preliminary studies supported by the Potato Boardx000D
looking at yield variability within fields, researchers have seen indications that soil compaction, certain nutrientx000D
deficiencies, and soil-borne pathogens such as Verticillium, root lesion nematodes, and common scab can havex000D
significant effects on marketable yield. The goal of this research is to evaluate a link between potato yield andx000D
disease occurrence and the diversity and structure of soil microbial communities in potato fields. This willx000D
provide a foundation for the development of an affordable method for prediction of field production potential,x000D
allowing the grower to test the soil in the fall before potato planting and adjust the cropping strategy forx000D
maximum yield and profit. The proposed project is a first collaborative research conducted by Dr. Yurgelx000D
(Dalhousie University) and the PEI Potato Board, which will provide a great benefit to both partners. Based onx000D
the obtained results the efficient strategy the further investigation of the link between soil communitiesx000D
structure and potato fields performance will be developed. These data will provide a validation of the researchx000D
strategy and will serve as a foundation for large scale research project for analysis of microbial communities inx000D
PEI potato fields in the order to develop microbial communities based molecular biomarkers for prediction ofx000D
potato yield and disease occurrence.