Global: Nematod Sista Kentang Menurun Hanya 10–30% Setahun Tanpa Perumah, Menjadikan Putaran Perlahan

Potato cyst nematodes (PCN) are among the most persistent soil pests of potatoes. Two species matter: Globodera rostochiensis dan Globodera pallida. Guidance from the British Society for Plant Pathology (BSPP) and AHDB shows why they are so hard to remove.

Slow decline, fast build-up

Without a susceptible host, populations fall slowly. BSPP estimates the annual decline at 20–40% for G. rostochiensis and 10–30% for G. pallida. The AHDB PCN grower guide gives typical rates of 30% and 20%. At a 20% annual decline, eight years without potatoes still leave about 17% of the population.

Each cyst is the dead body of a female. It can hold up to 600 viable eggs. Juveniles can stay viable inside the cyst for up to 40 years, BSPP says.

Build-up is much faster. On susceptible varieties, G. pallida can multiply 46–100 fold from an initial population below 10 eggs per gram of soil, according to AHDB. The hatch also lasts longer in this species: about 18 weeks, against 12 weeks for G. rostochiensis.

How widespread it is

PCN is common in Britain. BSPP reports that infested potato land in England and Wales fell from 64% in 2002 to 48% in 2019. The AHDB guide found PCN in 50% of sampled fields there. Figures for Scotland differ by study: BSPP cites 41% of fields, while the AHDB guide reports an overall incidence of 18%.

The losses are large. BSPP estimates UK losses at about £50 million per year. Worldwide, PCN was estimated to cause a 9% loss of potato production. With susceptible varieties and high populations, losses can reach 80%. In AHDB trials at 10–20 eggs per gram, yield losses ranged from 1% to 35%.

Tools: rotation, resistance, nematicides

. AHDB guide recommends a rotation of at least eight years. Resistant varieties suppress reproduction, but do not prevent it fully. Resistance is pathotype-specific. G. rostochiensis has five pathotypes (Ro1–Ro5), and G. pallida has three (Pa1–Pa3). Two genes give partial resistance to G. pallida: GpaIVsadg and Gpa5.

Nematicides give only partial control. They can reduce yield loss, but often leave many eggs in the soil, AHDB nota.

Mengapa ia penting?

G. pallida is the harder species. It declines more slowly, hatches over a longer period and has fewer resistant varieties. Growers need soil tests, long rotations and resistant or tolerant varieties together.

For breeders and seed companies, strong G. pallida resistance is a clear market need. For land renters, PCN status should be checked before signing a lease.

Photo: A cyst of the potato cyst nematode (Globodera) (illustrative). Christina Staudigl / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0