Who is eating whom in Washington potato fields? Good bugs, bad bugs and DNA analysis
Washington Ag Today December 17, 2010 One of the research presentations at the 2011 Washington-Oregon Potato Conference coming up in late January sounds like it could be an episode of CSI. Andy Jensen, Director of Research for the Washington State Potato Commission says it’s pretty interesting commission funded research. The presentation is titled “Who’s eating Whom? Using DNA to track predation in Washington potato fields.” Jensen: “Using molecular techniques to try and figure out what beneficial insects are eating what pests in potato fields. And it uses molecular techniques to attempt to identify the remains of food items in the guts of predatory insects. Takes advantage of DNA technology and new fangled testing techniques that have been developed over the last 20 years.” Don’t worry. That report comes well before lunchtime and the Potato Bar. And for scientists it’s exciting stuff. Jensen: “It is kind of a dream sort of research project for entomologists to actually know what the beneficial insects are eating in a crop.” And the results can help improve integrated pest management for potatoes. Of course that is just one of many research presentations that will be made at the Washington-Oregon Potato Conference being held January 25th through the 27th at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick. That’s Washington Ag Today. Brought to you in part by the Washington State Potato Commission. Nutrition Today. Good health tomorrow. I’m Bob Hoff on Northwest Aginfo Net.
