1. Official variety trials are conducted in eastern Austria under dry and warm climatic conditions, but conditions in western Austria are completely different. Potato varieties that perform well in official variety trials can develop very differently in cooler and wetter climates, especially with regard to disease pressure.
Lungau is an old, traditional potato-growing region where the risk of virus transmission by aphids is relatively low, and it is therefore considered a disease-recovery area. Seed production also plays an important role in Lungau. Today, the majority of potatoes produced in Lungau are organically grown. For these farmers, it is crucial to identify the best varieties that are easy to produce and for which there is sufficient consumer demand. To test various potato varieties, the Arable Farming Department of the Gumpenstein Agricultural Training Center (BAL Gumpenstein), in cooperation with the Tyrolean Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry, the Tamsweg District Chamber of Agriculture, and the Lungau Seed Producers Association, is conducting a field trial in the Lungau region. Eight varieties will be tested for yield and quality (including assessment of their suitability for eating).

2. Influence of Location and Fertilization of Different Potato Varieties on Yield and Quality:
Organic potato farming holds a special place because direct marketing is particularly well-suited to this crop and is in high demand among consumers. Therefore, it is crucial for organic farmers who wish to market potatoes directly to produce flavorful potatoes that meet quality criteria and can be sold quickly and efficiently. Different locations present varying conditions, partly due to climatic factors and partly because consumers in some regions prefer certain varieties over others. Thus, it is important to be familiar with a wider range of varieties, taking regional characteristics into account.
Varieties that have proven successful in organic cultivation in other European countries under completely different climatic conditions should definitely be included in this range of varieties.
Specifically, this scientific project will test a carefully selected range of potato varieties for yield and quality at various locations under different climatic conditions. These include a location in Lambach, with favorable climatic conditions, but in an area with relatively high rainfall. In contrast, trials will also be conducted in the inner Alpine region of Lungau, where Lungau serves both as a recovery area with regard to viral diseases and as a propagation area for potatoes, including organic varieties, which is an important source of income for farmers. Similarly, various varieties will be tested for their suitability for organic cultivation in the Enns Valley and the Upper Mur Valley.

3. Control Options for Rhizoctonia solani in Organic Potato Cultivation.
Rhizoctonia solani, the so-called root rot disease, has become a major problem, especially in organic potato cultivation. The constant influx of organic material introduced into the field through fertilization and crop rotation significantly increases the infection potential. While seed treatment can be successfully used against Rhizoctonia in conventional potato farming, this option is not available in organic farming. This shortcoming is particularly evident in seed production, but a heavy infestation of Rhizoctonia pox or other visible signs of the disease also significantly reduces the quality of consumer potatoes.
Several so-called plant strengtheners have been tested in various trials in Germany, but these have not yielded truly satisfactory results. Therefore, farmers who are severely affected are waiting for other ways to specifically combat Rhizoctonia solani. These include agronomic measures such as pre-sprouting the seed potatoes, which is relatively difficult if the seed potatoes are only available shortly before planting. High soil temperatures at planting time would be beneficial, as was the case in 2002 and partly in 2003, but this factor cannot be planned for because it is unpredictable. Furthermore, applying well-rotted manure to the fields can make a significant contribution to controlling this potato disease, as can maintaining a long crop rotation that does not incorporate too much organic matter into the soil. However, since there are not many options for crop rotation, especially in climatically unfavorable regions, it becomes extremely difficult to implement countermeasures. In areas with a very long crop rotation, where potatoes are only grown every 7 to 8 years, the problem with Rhizoctonia solani is considerably less than where potatoes are grown on the same field every 3 to 4 years.
Since the Lungau region, although a potato-growing area, is experiencing significant problems with Rhizoctonia solani, an experiment on this topic will be conducted at this location.