Potatoes certification

Above) Seed potatoes Virus-free certification programs exist for seed potatoes and some fruits look for these, and for disease-resistant varieties. 

Certification of seeds and other propagating materials as being disease-free or disease-tested is another short term application of immunoassays. Commercial products or services employing antibody-based tests are available for detecting viruses in seed potatoes and lettuce seed. These assays are performed primarily in central laboratories, but simplification of assay formats and procedures will permit seed crops to be monitored more closely throughout the production cycle to assure that elite stock remains pathogen or pest-free. 

With potatoes it is essential to obtain clean seed , free from vims. In some districts where the aphid is very prevalent, potato seed may have to be bonght each year. Under the Seed Certification Scheme it is mandatoiy to have the field inspected and the seed vims tested. 

The seed certification authority for England and Wales is the Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) whose functions are delegated to NIAB at Cambridge. Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) and the Potatoes, Plant... 

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