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- Always check your
seed potatoes yourself when they arrive.
- Potato seed should
be handled gently. Don't let it drop more than 15 cm during
handling operations.
- Seed potatoes must
be stored in new or washed, and preferably disinfected bins.
- If seed is stored
outside or in open sheds, regularly spray with an appropriate insecticide
to protect against potato grub and aphids.
- When your seed
arrives, you'll need to wait 7 - 14 days for fresh damage to
heal prior to transfer to coolstore. This could be longer in cold weather.
Provide
fresh air for curing. Never coolstore your seed immediately.
- If seed is tipped
from bulk containers or bags into bins, ensure that this is
done carefully to minimize damage, and that potatoes are allowed to
cure
from induced damage after tipping before transfer to coolstore.
- Additional protection
against storage rots can be added through the use of
fungicides applied during grading. Inform your seedgrower of your requirements.
- Seed should not
be stored in direct sunlight or where it can be frosted. Seed
stored against shed walls, in the paddock or under trees is more likely
to
develop storage problems.
- Regularly check
that your coolstore has adequate fresh air ciruclation and
maintains the storage temperature at 3o to 4oC. If your coolstore has
no
provision for automatic air exchange, establish a system to exchange
air
manually.
- Regularly clean
and disinfect seed cutters and planters during use.
- Potato plants are
most susceptible to leaf roll virus when seedlings emerge;
protective spray programs should start immediately if aphids are present
or disease pressure is significant in the district
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