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Around the Vine NEW PRODUCTS AND INDUSTRY NEWS NEW BOOK TACKLES POTATO CHEMISTRY A new book brings together for the first time leading research on the chemistry and technology of the potato. Advances in Potato Chemistry and Technology is edited by Massey University and Riddet Institute scientists Jaspreet Singh and Lovedeep Kaur. The role and importance of chemistry SENNINGER IRRIGATION INTRODUCES THE END SPRAY Senninger Irrigation introduces its new End Spray. This efficient low- pressure alternative irrigates corners and edges, especially where the flow and radius required is less than traditional end guns. The low-angle design combats the effects of wind. The large orifice resists clogging. For longer life, there are no moving parts. It is constructed of super-tough, wear-resistant material for long-term durability. There is no vibration, and adjustments are never needed. Booster Tube technology provides increased radius of throw over a 180-degree distribution with good uniformity over a large area to help reduce compaction and run-off. CLARKE YEAROUS JOINS ABSORBENT TECHNOLOGIES NAMPA, Idaho—Absorbent Technologies, Inc. announces the appointment of Clarke Yearous to the position of territory sales representative for the Oregon-based soil moisture management company. From his home in Nampa, Yearous will be responsible for supervising and expanding Zeba applications on potatoes, onions, sugarbeets and other row crops throughout Idaho, Montana, Nevada and Utah. He brings 30 years of diversified crop and agribusiness experience, including Westbridge Agricultural Products, L&M Companies and Anchor Foods in Idaho, Bland Farms in Georgia, and his own vegetable operation in Colorado. Yearous has an agronomy degree from Colorado State University. BASF VARIETY APPROVED LUDWIGSHAFEN, Germany—The European Commission approved Amflora, BASF’s genetically optimized starch potato, for commercial application in Europe. The potato can now be used for the production of industrial starch. Amflora produces pure amylopectin starch used in certain technical applications. Food use is not foreseen. It was developed in collaboration with experts from the European starch industry to respond to the demand for pure amylopectin starch. Conventional potatoes produce a mixture of amylopectin and amylose starch. For many technical applications, such as in the paper, textile and adhesives industries, pure amylopectin is advantageous, but separating the two starch components is uneconomical. The industry will benefit from high-quality Amflora starch that optimizes industrial processes: it gives paper a higher gloss, and concrete and adhesives can be processed for a longer period of time. This reduces the consumption of energy, additives and raw materials such as water. 8 Potato Grower | MAY 2010 in determining the processing quality and nutritional value of potatoes is presented for the first time in this single volume, recently published by Elsevier-Academic Press (USA). Its major focus is on recent information related to carbohydrate and non- carbohydrate composition, cell wall chemistry, analysis of glycoalkaloids, phenolics and anthocyanins, thermal processing and quality optimization, new and sophisticated methods of quality determination of potatoes and their products, potato starch characteristics and its modification and nutritional value of potatoes. Contact Bryan Gibson at 06-350-5562 or 021-819-487. PEST PROS REPORTS LATEST FINDINGS PLAINFIELD, Wis.—Pest Pros Inc, an independent crop consulting firm and plant disease diagnostic lab in Plainfield, Wis., reports its findings for 42 potato fields tested for storage disease risk in 2009. Using its “Storage Potato Disease Risk Indexing” system, each field was rated prior to harvest from very low to high for potential storage rot, then compared to the final rot outcome in storage at bin unloading up through late February. The accuracy of the forecasts in 2009 look very similar to those achieved in 2008 where over 71 percent of the forecasts were either in perfect agreement or very close to the predicted rot outcome (See our June 2009 issue, page 15). One quarter of the forecasts tend to over-estimate the potential for rot while in only 2 percent of the forecasts does the rot outcome greatly exceed the forecast. This second year of exceptional results paves the way for full commercialization of the system, including the development of a trade name, licensing and expansion of services outside of Wisconsin. Visit www.pestprosinc.com.