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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wapato, Washington » Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #429502

Research Project: New Technologies and Strategies for Managing Emerging Insect Pests and Insect Transmitted Pathogens of Potatoes

Location: Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research

Title: Potato-related research at USDA-ARS laboratories

Author
item Horton, David
item Angelella, Gina
item Cooper, William
item Navarre, Duroy
item Feldman, Maximilian
item Swisher Grimm, Kylie
item Whitworth, Jonathan
item Bamberg, John
item Halterman, Dennis
item Mc Cue, Kent
item Thomson, James
item Clarke, Christopher
item Collins, Paul
item Dogramaci, Munevver
item Busse, James
item Wang, Xiaohong
item Heck, Michelle
item Swingle, Bryan
item Filiatrault, Melanie
item Stodghill, Paul
item Puig, Alina
item Munyaneza, Joseph

Submitted to: Potato Progress
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/17/2025
Publication Date: 1/13/2026
Citation: Horton, D.R., Angelella, G.M., Cooper, W.R., Navarre, D.A., Feldman, M.J., Swisher Grimm, K.D., Whitworth, J.L., Bamberg, J.B., Halterman, D.A., Mc Cue, K.F., Thomson, J.G., Clarke, C.R., Collins, P.J., Dogramaci, M., Busse, J.S., Wang, X., Heck, M.L., Swingle, B.M., Filiatrault, M.J., Stodghill, P., Puig, A.S., Munyaneza, J.E. 2026. Potato-related research at USDA-ARS laboratories. Potato Progress. https://www.nwpotatoresearch.com/potato-related-research-at-usda-ars-laboratories.

Interpretive Summary: The US potato industry faces several challenges in ensuring sustainable returns. Challenges include an ever-changing regulatory climate, environmental concerns, rising input costs, post-harvest difficulties, a diverse complex of pests, and generational shifts in dietary preferences. USDA researchers in Wapato/Prosser in collaboration with ARS scientists at other location reviewed the ARS research being conducted organization-wide that is addressing these industry challenges. Three broad research challenges are targeted by ARS for research consisting of a need for (1) germplasm improvement and development of new cultivars, (2) new strategies to improve post-harvest quality of stored tubers, and (3) development of new strategies for pest and disease control. We provide a summary of research methods and goals being conducted separately by location and challenge. This review usefully shows the potato industry just what tactics are being used to address industry challenges, while providing details on the different approaches being taken by different laboratories to address those challenges.

Technical Abstract: The US potato industry faces several challenges in ensuring sustainable returns. Challenges include an ever-changing regulatory climate, environmental concerns, rising input costs, post-harvest difficulties, a diverse complex of pests, and generational shifts in dietary preferences. USDA researchers in Wapato/Prosser in collaboration with ARS scientists at other location reviewed the ARS research being conducted organization-wide that is addressing these industry challenges. Three broad research challenges are targeted by ARS for research consisting of a need for (1) germplasm improvement and development of new cultivars, (2) new strategies to improve post-harvest quality of stored tubers, and (3) development of new strategies for pest and disease control. We provide a summary of research methods and goals being conducted separately by location and challenge. This review usefully shows the potato industry just what tactics are being used to address industry challenges, while providing details on the different approaches being taken by different laboratories to address those challenges.