November 2024
This is the fifth article in a series providing case studies of biocontrol products that are on the market or under development in Europe.
Biocontrol uses substances, technologies or mechanisms derived from nature to control insect pests, diseases and weeds in agriculture and forestry. Biocontrol products generally fall into the following categories, depending on the “active ingredient” of each:
Potatoes are a staple food crop globally and they must be stored for up to 9–12 months to ensure year-round supply for both the fresh market and processing facilities. But significant post-harvest losses due to sprouting during storage have long been an issue. While lower than average (8-12 °C) storage temperatures can extend potato dormancy, they cannot prevent sprouting, making sprout suppressants necessary.
Conventional suppressants have been used for decades. However, chlorpropham (CIPC), the most effective and widely used, was banned in the EU (2020) and other countries due to concern about its potential health and environmental risks. As a result, essential oils (EOs) from various plants have been explored as safe alternatives for preserving potato quality and preventing sprout growth. Organic potato production already uses several EO-based products and interest in them is growing.
A 2024 study evaluated 20 EOs on three potato cultivars to determine their effectiveness in suppressing sprouting during storage at room temperature. Results indicated that the EOs from Cinnamomum camphora (camphor tree) and Origanum majorana (oregano) effectively suppressed sprouting in all cultivars throughout the storage period while maintaining potato quality. Additionally, the EO from Lavandula x intermedia (lavandin) showed the ability to limit sprout growth compared to untreated controls. This research was the first of its kind with these specific EOs, which have the potential to be developed into biocontrol products for sprout suppression.