The United Kingdom's Agriculture and Horticulture Development Council (AHDB) has launched a three-year research program aimed at improving the control of downy mildew and late rotting of garden crops and potatoes.

Based on current knowledge, research will focus on developing methods for detecting diseases in seeds, tests to understand fungicide resistance, and tools for monitoring disease risk in real time.

The £ 294,000 project will draw on the expertise of five research contractors and maximize investment by working closely with related Innovate UK projects.

Katherine Lambourne, project manager at AHDB, said that currently, the control of powdery mildew and late rotting is highly dependent on fungicides, but with the development of fungicide resistance, sustainable integrated management strategies are needed to ensure manufacturers are able to cope with short-term, medium-term and long-term plans.

“A key element of the study will be to provide manufacturers with practical and useful knowledge, tools and guidelines that will help them develop effective control strategies,” said the project manager.