Evaluation of the link between soil microbiota and potato crop yield

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

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