b'blight. Petiole analysis for nitrate content can be helpful in regulating fertilizer rates. A storage environment which allows rapid suberization and wound healing immediately after harvest will reduce tuber infection, Al-Mughrabi says. Once tubers are infected, warm conditions favour decay, while cool conditions slow the rate of disease development.P.E.I. MAY SEE SOME FAMILIAR INSECTS AND DISEASESThe main pest Prince Edward Island growers need to lookout for in 2020 are Colorado potato beetles (CPB), aphids, European corn borer and flea beetles, says Christine Noronha, an entomologist with AAFC.Potato suffering Conditions such as early and warmer than from pink rot.PHOTO: KHALIL I. usual temperatures in the spring could result AL-MUGHRABI in insects becoming active earlier, resulting in movement into the crop, she says.Last year was a quiet season on the insect front, says Noronha. We had low aphid numbers, Conditions such as early and warmer than CPB were effectively controlled, and we had average numbers of tarnished plant bug and flea usual temperatures in the spring could resultbeetle and European corn borer damage.in insects becoming active earlier, resulting inWireworm has been an issue in several parts of the province for several years, but damage movement into the crop. levels havent been as severe in the last couple of CHRISTINE NORONHA years due to a combination of weather conditions, proactive management decisions by growers, and new best management practices devel-oped through local research, says Ryan Barrett, research coordinator with the P.E.I. Potato Board. Potato early dying, common scab, and blackleg are all common diseases that are exacerbated by weather conditions and tend to vary from year-to-year.Its likely the same pests will show up this year, although numbers will depend on how the spring and summer shapes up.A not very cold winter may see high survival and if this is followed by a warm moist spring, it could result in earlier emergence and higher egg and larval survival, says Noronha. In addition, if the spring is warm, eggs will be laid in a shorter period of time, resulting in more individuals being at the damaging life stage earlier in the season.Potato suffering fromSo far, winter has been mild in the Maritimes Pythium leak. with very few days when the temperature dropped PHOTO: KHALIL I.AL-MUGHRABI to below -15 C, which could result in higher sur-vival of the pest species and insects in general.The main thing growers need to do is keep an eye on the weather and temperatures in the 26 SPUDSMART.COM SPRING 2020'