PRESQUE ISLE – Scientists who met earlier this week in Maryland from both sides of the border hope to establish a protocol to allow potatoes from Prince Edward Island to cross the border into the United States, an official with the National Potato Council said Wednesday.

The Canadian island province is under quarantine since a fungal disease, known as potato wart, was found this fall in its soil.

The disease, which can live for decades in the soil, causes growths to sprout on the tuber, rendering the produce unmarketable.

“We’re doing everything we can to make sure we don’t get this disease,” said David Lavway of Presque Isle, director of government relations for the National Potato Council in the United States.

Maine was represented Tuesday at a meeting of American and Canadian scientists in Maryland. The meeting’s outcome is an expected framework that would safely allow the resumption of limited movement of potatoes from Prince Edward Island to the United States and other Canadian provinces, Lavway said.

Such restrictions could include application of chemicals that prohibit sprouting, washing of the produce or dividing the Canadian island into “risk zones,” Lavway said.

During the daylong session Tuesday the scientific methods used to test for the fungal disease were reviewed. In addition, the scientists discussed what other expertise was needed to ensure that the disease does not spread.

Lavway said that no time limit has been set on when these recommendations could be issued. After being proposed by the United States’ Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, the National Potato Council will be able to review and comment on the plan.

“We are not dragging our feet,” said Lavway. “We will move as quickly as possible.”