Predicta Pt (potato)

Predicta Pt is a DNA-based soil and seed peel testing service. It helps potato growers identify the soil-borne pathogens that pose a risk to their crops, so they can take appropriate steps.

Our award-winning technology provides a fast and cost-effective way for growers to:

  • determine significant soil-borne disease risks
  • make informed variety choices
  • guide paddock management to minimise yield losses.

Learn more about testing for seedborne and soilborne pathogens in potatoes (PDF 6.9 MB).

Pathogens tested

Predicta Pt determines the amount of pathogen DNA present in soil and peel samples.

Our soil test indicates the disease risk from:

  • black dot (Colletotrichum coccodes)
  • verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahliae)
  • powdery scab (Spongospora subterranea)
  • root knot nematode (Meloidogyne fallax, M. javanica, M. incognita, M. arenaria).

Predicta Pt soil testing

Population densities are reported for the following pathogens:

  • Helminthosporium solani
  • Rhizoctonia solani AG2.1
  • Rhizoctonia solani AG3
  • Rhizoctonia solani AG4
  • Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, S. minor
  • Phytophthora erythroseptica, P. crytogea, P. dreschleri
  • Pythium Clade I
  • Streptomyces txtA gene
  • Verticillium dahliae
  • Pratylenchus crenatus
  • Pratylenchus neglectus
  • Pratylenchus penetrans
  • Meloidogyne hapla.

Our peel test indicates the disease risk from:

  • silver scurf (Helminthosporium solani)
  • rhizoctonia disease (Rhizoctonia solani AG2.1 and AG3)
  • common scab (Streptomyces txtA gene).

Predicta Pt peel testing

Population densities are reported for the following pathogens:

  • Colletotrichum coccodes
  • Rhizoctonia solani AG4
  • Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, S. minor
  • Verticillium dahliae
  • Phytophthora erythroseptica, P. cryptogea, P. dreschleri
  • Pythium Clade I
  • Spongospora subterranea
  • Meloidogyne fallax
  • Meloidogyne hapla
  • Meloidogyne javanica, M. incognita, M. arenaria (test does not distinguish the 3 species)
  • Pratylenchus crenatus.
  • Pratylenchus neglectus
  • Pratylenchus penetrans.

Predicta Pt test results are reported under the following categories.

Report results

Disease risk

The risk of yield loss associated with a particular level of pathogen DNA is determined and displayed using a graphic to indicate a 'low', 'medium' or 'high' disease risk.

Population density

Category for ‘tests under evaluation’ as the relationship between yield loss and pathogen level has not been determined.

This enables new tests to be reported to growers faster, as developing disease risk categories can take several years. Results for population density categories can be used to:

  • rank levels of inoculum in different paddocks
  • monitor changes in inoculum during different phases of the cropping sequence
  • confirm disease diagnosis.

Example reports

Access Predicta Pt services

Potato growers can access Predicta Pt services through an accredited agronomist.

Results are emailed to the agronomist within 2 weeks of the lab receiving soil samples. They will interpret the test results and advise on management options to reduce the risk of yield loss.

Contact one of the below local agronomists to begin your pre-planting risk assessment of potato seed and soilborne diseases.

Predicta Pt accredited agronomists

Company Accredited
agronomist
RegionPhone
South Australia
AgXtra Ben Hill-Ling Adelaide 0400 616 769
AuSPICA Michelle Wilson South East (03) 5962 0000
DJ's Growers Services
and Supplies
Caleb Shaw Fleurieu 0438 842 296
Dowling AGRiTech Peter Ellison South East 0447 608 993
Elders Michael Harding Adelaide Plains 0427 790 028
  George Nicoll South East 0447 735 139
Farmer Johns Mark Egarr Murray Bridge 0409 703 175
Nutrien Ag Solutions Matthew Arthurson South East 0402 743 069
Omnia Specialities Andrew Doecke Riverland 0427 399 708
Precision Agriculture David Oddie South East, Fleurieu,
Kangaroo Island
0427 514 109
Staphyt Australasia Orville Hildebrand Adelaide 0427 032 709
Red Earth Ag Co Pty Ltd Tony Kourmouzis South East 0429 390 816
SelectAG Services Dale Stevenson Adelaide Hills 0407 654 994
TriCal Australia Bryan Robertson Adelaide 0400 808 284
  Kyle Murphy Adelaide (08) 8347 3838
  Matthew Stein Adelaide (08) 8347 3838
New South Wales
Yenda Producers
Co-Operative Society LTD
Steven Serafin Riverina 0427 566 692
  Kurtis Brown Riverina 0427 566 670
Queensland
ECO AG Antony McConville SE Queensland 0408 700 230
Tableland Fertilizer Paul Keevers Atherton Tableland 0439 921 133
Tasmania
E.E. Muir & Sons Peta Davies Northern 0408 259 739
  Julie Finnigan Northern 0408 270 068
  Doug Green Northern 0418 141 474
  Deon Heys Northern 0428 779 678
  Ashlin Rodman Northern 0419 511 487
  Matthew Morris Northern 0409 721 232
  Taelyn Male Northern 0456 963 733
  Georga Brennan Southern 0447 889 135
Elders Josh Turner Northern 0437 656 098
  Justin Jones Northern 0448 990 434
  Ross Tulich Northern 0427 802 552
Nutrien Ag Solutions Stuart Millwood Northern 0419 823 122
  Hannah Mucha Northern 0437 154 476
  Jeff Harrison Northern 0447 402 774
  Alex Triffett Northern 0429 547 639
Simplot Australia Angus Galloway Northern 0419 835 290
  Rachel Gill Northern 0428 381 437
Tasmanian Institute
of Agriculture, UTAS
Philip Beveridge Northern 0407 343 624
Victoria
AuSPICA Nigel Crump  (03) 5962 0000
conNEXUS global Darren Cribbes Goulburn Valley 0400 600 556
Bayer Crop Science Andrew Powell South West 0419 310 938
Davies and Rose Jamie Davies Creswick 0419 887 618
E.E. Muir & Sons Drew Trouw Gippsland 0460 341 688
Elders Nicholas Gray Gippsland 0419 182 215
  Ben Malcolm Gippsland 0455 239 902
Lamb Weston Mitchell Gorman  0448 222 502
McCain Foods Daniel Grayling Ballarat 0403 174 765
  Olivia Ryan Ballarat 0438 156 676
Western Australia
Nutrien Ag Solutions Adam Chapman South West 0428 887 833
  Kirsty Smith South West (08) 9842 7888

Learn about SARDI's annual agronomist accreditation course and register your interest in delivering Predicta services.

Researchers can also submit soil samples for Predicta Pt testing – contact us for details on test availability and cost.

Predicta Pt is not intended for in-crop diagnosis. See our crop diagnostic services for horticulture pathology, nematode screening, or seed and crop testing.

Submit samples

Following the correct sampling procedure is essential for accurate results – learn the Predicta Pt sampling strategy (PDF 565.7 KB).

Contact

Submit samples

SARDI Molecular Diagnostics Group
Plant Research Centre
2A Hartley Grove
Urrbrae SA 5064

Order free Predicta Pt sample bags and track samples

Russell Burns
Phone: 0401 122 115
Email: russell.burns@sa.gov.au

Matthew Rowe
Phone: 0491 933 041
Email: matthew.rowe2@sa.gov.au

Nigel Percy
Phone: 08 8429 2236
Email: nigel.percy@sa.gov.au

Discuss research tests and interpret results

Michael Rettke
Phone: 0401 122 124
Email: michael.rettke@sa.gov.au

Page last reviewed: 14 Feb 2024

 


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