Characterization of forty-four potato varieties for resistance to common scab,black scurf and silver scurf

Common scab, black scurf and silver scurf belong to serious diseases of cultivated potato that especially impair tuber quality. Tuber infection in 44 potato (Solanum tuberosum ssp. tuberosum L.) varieties was evaluated using two measures – severity and incidence of infected tubers. Both measures were highly correlated. An important result derived from this study supports fungicide application against potato late blight secondarily acts on reducing tuber infection by all evaluated pathogens. Therefore, the conventional potato growing seems to be more effective compared to ecological growing. The pedigree analysis of 44 varieties indicated the presence of Solanum demissum genotypes in the variety genome may negatively affect variety response to Helminthosporium solani presence.     

Occurrence of Skin Blemish Diseases (Scab and Scurf) in Norwegian Potato Production

A survey of the prevalence of skin blemish diseases in potatoes after the growing seasons of 2008 and 2009 was carried out on 247 potato lots representing different cultivars and production regions in Norway. The results showed the presence of silver scurf (Helminthosporium solani) in all lots. Skin spot (Polyscytalum pustulans) and black scurf (Rhizoctonia solani) were found in 80% of the lots, and black dot (Colletotrichum coccodes) and common scab caused by Streptomyces spp. were present in 50–70%. Also, powdery scab (Spongospora subterranea) occurred in 65–80% of the lots, and root-lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus spp.) were detected in 60% of the sub-samples that exhibited symptoms of common scab.     

Survival ofHelminthosporium solani in soil andin vitro colonization of senescent plant tissue

Silver scurf, caused byHelminthosporium solani, is considered to be a tuberborne disease of potato. The ability ofH. solani to overwinter in soil was evaluated in field studies at two locations in New York during 1992. Field plots were established at sites whereH. solani infected potatoes had been produced in 1991. Plants produced from pathogen-free tubers of four cultivars yielded tubers infected with silver scurf at both locations. Up to 61% of tubers were infected in some plots. The ability ofH. solani to colonize leaf tissue was evaluated inin vitro assays. Detached leaves of ten crops were sprayed with a spore suspension ofH. solani and incubated for 20 days.H. solani colonized and sporulated on senescent leaf tissue of alfalfa, sorghum, rye, oats, corn and wheat, and only colonized senescent tissue of rapeseed, red clover and buckwheat. No growth was observed on potato leaf tissue. These results indicate that soil survival and saprophytic ability may be important in the epidemiology of silver scurf of potato.     

Soil survival and thiabendazole sensitivity ofHelminthosporium solani isolates from Alberta,Canada

Summary Survival of the pathogen causing silver scurf of potato (Helminthosporium solani) in Alberta soils was studied by evaluatingH. solani infection in the progeny ofH. solani-free nuclear seed potato tubers planted in fields where potatoes had never been grown or were grown 1, 2, 3, or 4 years previously. Daughter tubers from all the fields developed silver scurf lesions, andH. solani was isolated from infected tubers. This is the first report of survival ofH. solani in Alberta soils. Soil-borne inoculum appears to have a role in the epidemiology of the disease and in the introduction of the pathogen into silver scurf-free potato seed stock. Of 31 plant species tested, only potato was found to be a host ofH. solani. Most of theH. solani isolates from north central Alberta were more sensitive to thiabendazole than those from southern Alberta, where thiabendazole is much more commonly used.     

Management of silver scurf (Helminthosporium solani) with fungicide seed treatments and storage practices

Thiabendazole insensitive strains ofHelminthosporium solani, the causal agent of silver scurf, make controlling the disease with seed treatment difficult. Potato tuber seed treatments and environmental storage management practices were investigated as means to minimize silver scurf. Fungicide seed treatments were evaluated for control ofH. solani; disease was evaluated during the growing season, at harvest, and after 5 months of storage. Silver scurf was observed on progeny tubers eleven weeks after planting. Fungicides that reduced silver scurf incidence and severity on the seed resulted in reduced incidence and severity of the disease in the progeny tubers at harvest and significantly lower disease ratings after storage. Only small increases in disease incidence (0-8%) were seen after storage. Thiophanate-methyl with mancozeb, Captan with mancozeb, and fludioxonil were among the most effective in reducing the incidence and severity of silver scurf on seed and in progeny tubers (Incidence on progeny tubers at harvest for these three treatments were 3%, 9%, and 8% respectively). Thiophanatemethyl alone was not effective for control of silver scurf (48% incidence compared to 43% incidence for the untreated control). Environmental conditions in storage affected disease development. Reduced humidity (85%) during the curing period (0–3 weeks after harvest) significantly reduced (11%) the surface area of tubers infected with silver scurf. Free moisture on the tuber surfaces during storage significantly increased (15%) tuber surface area infection.H. solani was shown to survive in soil and on some potato storage building materials for up to 9 months. The silver scurf disease of potatoes can be suppressed using effective seed treatment and storage management.     

Testing the resistance to silver scurf in commercial potato cultivars under controlled environmental conditions

Summary Optimum storage conditions to identify resistance to silver scurf among commercially grown potato cultivars were determined in a series of experiments. Inoculation of field-grown tubers with a conidial suspension ofH. solani (concentration 10⁴ conidia per ml of water) and incubation at 15°C with 95% RH for 1 month followed by 2 months at 85% RH produced the greatest differences in disease severity between potato cultivars. Results with glasshouse-grown tubers were comparable with those from field-grown tubers, indicating that the test could be used to identify resistance in wild species of potato and to understand the inheritance of this resistance.     

Infection of aerial parts of potato plants byColletotrichum coccodes and its effects on premature vine death and yield

Collectotrichum coccodes, the pathogen causing black dot disease of potato, was investigated to determine its potential for causing symptoms on the aerial parts of potato plant, premature vine death, and reduction in yield under greenhouse and field conditions. Spray inoculations with conidial suspensions (10⁶ colony forming units/ml) ofC. coccodes caused sunken, dark, necrotic lesions on stems, leaves and petioles, vein and leaf necrosis, dieback and premature vine death under growth chamber and greenhouse conditions. Field inoculations in 1986 and 1987 provided evidence for an increased incidence of premature vine death in seven potato genotypes (Russet Burbank, Norgold Russet, Superior, Butte, NDA 8694-3, A68113-4 and A66107-51). Late season application of metribuzin at 0.84 kg/ha significantly increased the incidence of stems with black dot symptoms in cv. Russet Burbank at one location. Field inoculations in 1987 at two locations resulted in yield reduction in the late-maturing cv. Russet Burbank (6.3 and 6.5 t/ha) and clone A68113-4 (5.0 t/ha), but not in the early maturing cv. Norgold Russet. Similar results were obtained in greenhouse studies following soil inoculations withC. coccodes: yield reduction was observed in cv. Russet Burbank but not in cvs. Norgold Russet, Superior and Katahdin. Colonization of stem ends of tubers byC. coccodes from spray inoculated field plots was higher than in tubers from uninoculated plots at one of the two locations. These results point to a much broader potential ofC. coccodes as a potato pathogen, than hitherto documented. Colletotrichum coccodes (Wallr.) Hughes (syn.C. atramentarium (Berk. & Br. Taub.) was described in 1825 (21) and has a wide host range (5). Potato and tomato are the more economically important hosts. This fungus has been variously referred to as an unspecialized, minor pathogen or secondary invader (18), weak pathogen (22), specialized parasite (5), or superficial colonizer and widespread epiphyte (19). The symptoms produced by this pathogen on potato have been described as black dot (10, 14) on stems, stolons, tubers and roots, sometimes associated with leaf scorch or wilt (24), rubbery tuber wilt (1), and tuber skin necrosis (17). The fungus is commonly associated with senescent, decaying root and stem tissue, especially at the end of the season. In Idaho, instances of premature death of potato without typical symptoms of Verticillium wilt, but accompanied by a high incidence of stems with black dot symptoms, have been observed in potato crops grown on fields fumigated with metam sodium. Additional observations by growers have also implicated the possible interaction of the herbicide metribuzin with the incidence of black dot. Although it was observed by some workers to accelerate leaf senescence (12, 22), Schmiedeknecht (21) concluded thatC. coccodes was unable to infect the green leaves of potato plant. Even thoughVerticillium dahliae is generally considered the major factor in potato early dying (20), several workers (7, 11, 13, 19, 22) have investigated the possible role ofC. coccodes in causing premature death of potato (8). However, these studies examinedC. coccodes only as a soilborne, root and tuber pathogen of potato; its effects on shoot portions (aerial parts) of the plant were not considered. In addition to causing anthracnose of fruits of tomato, pepper and squash (18), recent reports indicate thatC. coccodes causes foliage blights on eastern black nightshade (2) and velvetleaf (25). The objectives of this study were: (1) to examine the potential ofC. coccodes to cause symptoms on aerial parts of potato plant, (2) to investigate the effect of spray inoculation in the field withC. coccodes on incidence of premature vine death, tuber colonization and yield of potato, and (3) to document the effect of soil inoculation withC. coccodes alone or in combination withV. dahliae on potato varieties under greenhouse conditions.     

Occurrence,development, and losses associated with silver scurf and black dot on Colorado potatoes

Silver scurf, caused byHelminthosporium solani, and black dot, caused byColletotrichum atramentarium, are pathogens of tuber periderm whose presence in Colorado was only recently reported. A field survey conducted in September 1977 revealed thatC. atramentarium was more prevalent (21.8% tuber infection) and had a wider distribution thanH. solani (5.4% tuber infection). A greater incidence of both pathogens was observed on thin skinned tubers of chipping cultivars (49.0% infection) than on thicker skinned tubers of table stock cultivars (9.1% infection). Conidial development ofH. solani is tretic, pleurogenous, and requires 17–21 hours per conidium. Conidial septations appear while conidial elongate, and require 3–5 hours per septum. Light microscopy revealed that at least 11 conidia per conidiophore are produced in culture in 54 hours at 20–25 C (68–77 F) and humidity >90%. Scanning electron microscopy showed that fructifications ofH. solani (conidiophores-conidia) arise from beneath infected tuber periderm. Histological studies indicate some peridermal loosening and sloughing. Heavy deposition of unidentified compounds was observed in infected periderm, and hyphae were restricted to periderm cells. Fresh weight loss of tubers naturally infected withC. atramentarium was significantly greater than fresh weight loss of nearly noninfected (< 1% surface area infected) control tubers. Periderm infected with eitherH. solani orC. atramentarium appeared similar, i.e. shriveled, suggesting infections from either pathogen may result in increased fresh weight loss through alteration of the periderm.     

Effects of watering potato plants before harvest and of curing conditions on development of tuber diseases during storage

Summary Plots of potato plants were watered to field capacity one day before harvest on three dates, and tubers from watered and non-watered plots were stored at 7°C and 95% RH immediately or after curing at 15°C either at 80% or 95% RH. Watering increased the severity of silver scurf after storage when tubers were not cured. Curing at 80% RH decreased the disease and amounts were similar from watered and non-watered plants. Black dot was increased by watering whereas black scurf and golding blotch were decreased.     

Treatment of seed potatoes with prochloraz for simultaneous control of silver scurf and black dot on progeny tubers

Summary Potato seed tubers infected withHelminthosporium solani andColletotrichum coccodes were treated with prochloraz (as Omega 450 g a.i. l⁻¹ EC) and/or prochloraz managanese chloride (as Octave 25 g/kg DP), and planted in two separate fields not previously cultivated with potatoes. Dipping seed 28 d prior to planting in 2,4 or 6 g a.i. l⁻¹ Omega, and dusting with 500 or 750 g Octave per 100 kg seed significantly reduced the incidence of silver scurf and black dot on progeny tubers. In one field, the higher concentrations of Omega and Octave gave slightly better control than the lower Omega concentrations. At the second site, postharvest application of 4 g a.i. l⁻¹ Omega or 750 g Octave per 100 kg seed limited development of both diseases on progeny tubers, with slightly better control when an additional Octave dusting was applied 14 d before planting. None of the prochloraz treatments adversely affected plant stand or tuber yield.     

Cultivar Effects on the Interaction between Free-Living Plant-Parasitic Nematodes and the Fungal Pathogen <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhizoctonia solani</Emphasis> in Potato

Crop damage is associated with infection by plant pathogens but can also arise through abiotic factors. However, the plant pathogens are involved in biotic interactions with other plant pathogens, and these interactions may differ depending of the cultivar of the crop. Here, the interaction between the fungus Rhizoctonia solani (AG3) and free-living plant-parasitic nematodes was investigated in a pot experiment with different potato cultivars. No synergistic interaction between R. solani and plant-parasitic nematodes was found, instead there was an effect of treatment with lower tuber yield when nematodes occurred alone. There were differences among the cultivars regarding incidence of black scurf, dry weight of stems and tubers, and there was interactive effects between treatment and cultivar regarding dry weight of stolons and roots. Therefore, results concerning incidence and damage of R. solani and/or plant-parasitic nematodes found for one cultivar may not be applicable to other cultivars.     

The effect of seed-and soilborne inoculum ofColletotrichum coccodes on the incidence of black dot on potatoes

Summary Soil in a potato field naturally infested with black dot (Colletotrichum coccodes) was fumigated with methyl bromide at 126 g m⁻² or left unfumigated. Potato seed tubers (cv. BP1) uninfected, lightly infected (1–25% surface affected), severely infected (26–100% surface affected) and severely infected withC. coccodes but dusted with prochloraz manganese chloride as Octave 2.5% DP at 750 g per 100 kg seed were planted in fumigated and unfumigated soil. When harvested, the incidence of black dot on the progeny of infected seed planted in unfumigated soil was twice that of progeny in fumigated soil, with progeny of uninfected seed having a 68.5 times higher disease incidence in unfumigated soil. Black dot on progeny tubers was reduced by pre-treatment of seed with prochloraz in fumigated soil only. With black dot infested fields, planting disease-free seed or treating seed with fungicides would not decrease disease on progeny tubers.     

Effects of inoculum source and irrigation on black dot disease of potatoes (Colletotrichum coccodes (Wallr.) Hughes) and its development during storage

Summary In 1985 and 1986 plots were planted with seed tubers affected with black dot and with healthy seed inoculated or not with cultures ofColletotrichum coccodes at planting. Half the plots were irrigated from shoot emergence to the end of July. Seed tubers rotted more often when they were diseased than when they were not and rotting was increased by irrigation; by contrast, up to 18 weeks after planting irrigation decreased infection of stem-bases, roots and tubers. Tuber infection, first recorded in July, increased throughout the season and most rapidly from September, when the irrigation applied earlier increased disease. Soil-applied inoculum gave most disease in both years and tubers from healthy seed gave least in 1986 but as much as from diseased seed in 1985. Incidence and severity of black dot increased more during storage at 15°C than at 5°C and only on unwashed tubers.     

Effects of Soil Water Level,Black Dot (Colletotrichum coccodes) Infested Soil and Nutrient Depletion on Potato in a Controlled Environment

The effects of soil water level and soil infested or not infested with Colletotrichum coccodes were quantified and compared on Umatilla Russet potato in repeated greenhouse trials. Nitrogen levels in leaflets and tuber yield differed significantly for effect of water level but there was no effect for soil infestation in both trials. More leaflet N as measured by chlorophyll and less tuber yield occurred in the low than the medium and high soil water treatments. Number of progeny tubers was not affected by C. coccodes but numbers were significantly less for the low water level than the high water level in one trial. Root weight was significantly reduced by C. coccodes in both trials and was significantly less in the high than the low and medium soil water levels in one trial. Incidence of infected progeny tubers was significantly reduced in infested soils for the low soil water compared to the medium or high soil water levels in one trial. The effect of increasing levels of water in infested soils had large and significant increases for percentage of stem area with sclerotia in both trials. Managing soil water by not overwatering in irrigated potato fields in the presence of C. coccodes may reduce black dot severity and quantity of sclerotia that potentially can overwinter and serve as sources of infection for subsequent crops. Analyses demonstrated a potential for significant associations between plant and disease variables not evidence for cause and effect.     

The effect of condensation on sporulation ofHelminthosporium solani on potato tubers infected with silver scurf and held in simulated store conditions

Summary Chambers were designed to simulate environmental conditions present in commercial potato stores and were used to introduce condensation to tubers infected with silver scurf (Helminthosporium solani). The electrical resistance measured across the skin of tubers from the top of the chambers was consistently lower than that from the bottom of the chamber, and this was reflected in an increased number ofH. solani spores produced by the top tubers. An increase in the length of the condensation period resulted in the skin resistance remaining lower for a longer period and also resulted in higher number of spores. Tubers held at relatively high ambient temperatures (15 °C) required a shorter period of condensation to cause an increase in spore count. This investigation highlighted the need for close monitoring of store environments so that condensation events can be quickly identified and the tubers dried.     

Colonization of rotation crops and weeds by the potato black dot pathogenColletotrichum coccodes

The rotation crops wheat, barley, oat, maize, soybean, rye, yellow mustard, alfalfa, and spring canola and weeds eastern black nightshade, velvetleaf, timothy grass, orchard grass, and Giant foxtail common to potato-growing areas in North America were used to study the host range ofColletotrichum coccodes, the causal agent of potato black dot. The fungus was isolated from nine of 14 rotation crops and weeds that were inoculated: yellow mustard, soybean, spring canola, alfalfa, oat, eastern black nightshade, velvetleaf, giant foxtail, and timothy grass. In all, colonization was highest in black nightshades (87%) and velvetleaf (80%). Among the rotation crops, colonization was highest on yellow mustard (59%) followed by spring canola (33%) and soybean (30%).Colletotrichum coccodes was not isolated from wheat, barley, rye, maize, or orchard grass. The results indicated that crops used for rotation with potato should be selected carefully to prevent the increase ofC. coccodes inoculum in the soil and that weeds may help maintain viable inoculum ofC. coccodes in the absence of potato. Based on these results we recommend that wheat, barley, maize, or rye be used in rotation with potato in areas whereC. coccodes is present in high levels in the soil.     

Fungicide treatment of seed tubers infected with thiabendazole-resistantHelminthosporium solani andPolyscytalum pustulans for controlling silver scurf and skin spot on stored progeny tubers

Summary Seed tubers, cv. Désirée, derived from stocks treated annually with thiabendazole were infected with thiabendazole-resistant strains ofHelminthosporium solani andPolyscytalum pustulans. Samples of seed tubers were either untreated or immersed for 5 min in fungicide suspensions of thiabendazole, imazalil or thiabendazole plus imazalil and planted on four farms in 1988 and 1989. After harvest, tuber samples from each treatment were treated with thiabendazole and stored for 6 months. Applying imazalil or thiabendazole plus imazalil to seed tubers decreased the severity of silver scurf and skin spot on stored progeny tubers. Thiabendazole applied to seed tubers or to progeny tubers after harvest did not affect the severity of either disease, but post-harvest treatment decreased the incidence of black scurf after storage.     

Anastomosis Group and Pathogenicity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhizoctonia solani </Emphasis>Associated with Stem Canker and Black Scurf of Potato in Heilongjiang Province of China

From 2012 to 2015, a total of 226 isolates of Rhizoctonia solani were collected from the stem cankers on potato stems and sclerotia on tubers from different potato cultivation areas of Heilongjiang Province, China. These isolates were assigned to the anastomosis group (AG) by performing conventional PCR assays using previously published primers for ITS-rDNA regions, as well as by observing hyphal interactions where appropriate. Most of the isolates were assigned to AG-3PT (58.85 %), and several were assigned to AG-5 (21.68 %), AG-2-1 (7.08 %) and AG-4 (12.39 %). Pathogenicity tests showed that the AG-3 and AG-5 isolates had the highest virulence, and the disease indices were 1.96a and 2.47a for stem and 1.48a and 1.6a for root (P < 0.05) after analyzed by LSD multiple comparisons, respectively. Both two isolates consistently caused large brown lesions with sunken on the potato stems and roots in in vitro and greenhouse experiments. This is the first detailed report on the AG composition, variability and pathogenicity of R. solani isolates associated with stem cankers and black scurf found on potatoes cultivated in Heilongjiang Province.     

Effect of a continuous hot water treatment of potato tubers on seed-borne fungal pathogens

Summary The viability of five pathogens was decreased by treatment with hot water when tested in vitro.Polyscytalum pustulans was most sensitive andRhizoctonia solani least sensitive. Potato tubers were exposed to 55°C for 5 min in a commercial continuous hot water treatment plant using naturally contaminated seed tubers and tubers which had been inoculated by dipping in comminuted cultures. The frequency of eyes colonised byP. pustulans, Helminthosporium solani, andR. solani was reduced to virtually zero and the effect persisted on tubers subsequently stored at 4°C and at 15°C for up to 16 wk. Results withColletotrichum coccodes were inconclusive. Treatment suppressedPenicillium spp. which, however, rapidly recolonised the eyes during storage, leading to higher contamination levels in the treated than in the untreated tubers. With tubers inoculated withPhoma foveata, good control was achieved when the incubation period before treatment was 10 d but not when the period was 42 d.     

Free-Living Plant-Parasitic Nematodes do not Affect the Efficiency of Seed Tuber Fungicide Treatment against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhizoctonia solani</Emphasis>

Stem canker on germinating potato sprouts is often caused by seed-borne inoculum of the fungus Rhizoctonia solani. However, high amounts of free-living plant-parasitic nematodes have been found in field patches of potato plants with stem canker. Fungicide treatment of the seed tubers can be used to avoid stem canker caused by seed-borne inoculum but it is unknown if nematodes can affect this. To investigate whether free-living plant-parasitic nematodes, the root-lesion nematode Pratylenchus penetrans or a combination of several plant-parasitic nematode genera in a full nematode community, may have a negative effect on the fungicide seed treatment, a pot experiment with seed tubers inoculated with R. solani, half of which were treated with fungicides, was performed. The seed-borne inoculum caused severe damage to the plants, while no fungal damages were observed on the fungicide treated plants. This shows that the nematodes did not affect the fungicide treatment. The probability of black scurf decreased in treatments with a full nematode community, which may be due to the action of fungal-feeding nematodes.