Recent research has led to adjustments in late foliar blight resistance ratings. Some varieties such as Cara, historically rated as seven, have been amended to five.

These changes, revealed to a packed audience at the Winter Forum at Sutton Bridge Crop Storage Research, Lincolnshire on February 22, are now live on the British Potato Variety Database.

"The resistance scores of varieties rated five or more to foliar late blight have been re-evaluated," explained Potato Council head of R&D

Dr Mike Storey, who chaired the forum. "Producers who have been growing resistant varieties should check the Variety Database as there are some significant modifications."

The work, supported by Potato Council, was undertaken by SASA, SAC, SCRI and the Savari Research Trust in response to the recent domination of the virulent and aggressive genotype 13_A2.