Under the banner of Alves Diagnostics, the Higgins Group has launched its comprehensive diagnostic service into the commercial arena. The service has been developed over many years, and has hitherto been available only to Higgins growers.

Recognising the importance of breeding and combating disease within the potato industry as a whole, and in order to meet the challenges of a changing market, Higgins has put its technical skills and considerable expertise within the grasp of commercial growers, merchants, processors, consultants and scientists.

Highly skilled laboratory technicians at Alves Diagnostics use technologies used in medicine and forensic science to test for disease organisms which can now be identified at very low levels.

The service includes:

• Blackleg [Erwinia carotovara spp atroseptica] testing
• Washed brock assessment
• Bruise testing
• Hotbox testing
• Dry rot [Fusarium] species analysis
• Full stock assessment and fry testing