Effect of crop rotation on the incidence of soil-borne fungal diseases of potato

Effects of crop rotation on the incidence of soil-borne pathogens and on the performance of potato were investigated in five field experiments. Rotations differed in cropping frequency of potato and in crop sequence.Incidence of stem canker caused byRhizoctonia solani was strongly influenced by the cropping frequency of potato and not by crops with which the potato was alternated in the rotation. Cropping frequency of potato also affected the occurrence of black scurf, but less pronounced than for stem canker. The antagonistVerticillium bigutatum slightly reducedR. solani (black scurf) in plots on sandy soil continuously cropped with potato. Incidence of stem canker was also strongly affected by granular nematicides applied to the soil, nitrogen level and the cultivar grown.Stem infections byVerticillium dahliae depended on the cropping frequency of potato, by the crop with which the potato was alternated in the rotation and by the density and virulence of endoparasitic nematodes, especiallyMeloidogyne spp.Crop rotation had no effect at all on incidence of common scab on tubers, whereas the effect of cropping frequency of potato on netted scab was highly significant. When cultivars were grown susceptible to both scab types, netted scab supressed common scab.     

Dynamics ofRhizoctonia solani (black scurf) in successive potato crops

The position of plants withRhizoctonia solani sclerotia (black scurf) on progeny tubers was mapped for an experimental field at Haren where potatoes were grown continuously and in rotation with other crops for five successive years, and for another field at Borgercompagnie with a 12 frequency of potatoes during three potato crops. Initially, the distribution of plants with black scurf on both fields was rather dense and homogeneous. In the following years the distribution became heterogeneous and patchy. The local decline ofR. solani AG 3 (the common potato pathogen) in Haren was apparently caused by an unknown factor selectively suppressingR. solani AG 3, while simultaneouslyR. solani AG 5 increased in mass. This AG 5 type proved to be an inferior competitor of AG 3 on the potato plant in a laboratory experiment. The specificR. solani antagonistVerticillium biguttatum did not play a role. A similar factor could have reduced the formation of black scurf in the experimental field at Borgercompagnie, whereV. biguttatum was also too infrequent to account for the decline.R. solani AG 5 was not present here and could not indicate the presence of a selective factor against AG 3.     

Integrated crop management, the basis for environment friendly crop protection of potatoes

Relatively large amounts of pesticides are needed to control diseases and pests in modern, intensive potato production. Integrated crop management offers a way of reducing the need for pesticides. It aims to reduce costs and improve the quality of the product and of the production methods, while maintaining soil fertility and the quality of the environment. The components of integrated crop management are described. Prevention of diseases and pests has high priority. If diseases or pests are present, non-chemical control methods are preferred and chemical control is based on economic criteria and the monitoring of the soil and crops. The contribution of integrated crop management to the control of two important fungal diseases, late blight (Phytophthora infestans), and stem canker (Rhizoctonia solani) and of one pest, potato cyst nematode (Globodera spp..) is described. The prospects for further development of integrated crop protection are discussed.     

Compatible Biological and Chemical Control Systems for Rhizoctonia solani in Potato

A series of chemical and biological control agents were tested for compatibility with the Rhizoctonia-specific biocontrol fungus Verticillium biguttatum aimed at designing novel control strategies for black scurf (Rhizoctonia solani) and other tuber diseases in potato. The efficacy of chemicals, alone and in combination with V. biguttatum was tested in in vitro assays on nutrient agar plates, in bio-assays with minitubers and in the field. Generally, there were both antagonistic, neutral and additive interactions with V. biguttatum among the combinations tested; there were no indications for synergistic interactions. Broad-spectrum fungicides (azoxystrobin, chlorothalonil, thiabendazole) were fungitoxic to V. biguttatum as shown in in vitro assays, and hampered black scurf control by V. biguttatum in bio-assays. Oomycete-specific chemicals (cymoxanil and propamocarb) and various biocontrol strains (Gliocladium spp., Pseudomonas spp. and Trichoderma spp.) did not interfere with the growth of V. biguttatum on agar nutrient plates and did not affect black scurf control by V. biguttatum in co-applied treatments in the minituber bio-assay. Rhizoctonia-specific (pencycuron, flutalonil) fungicides co-applied with V. biguttatum showed additive effects on black scurf control. When combinations of V. biguttatum and cymoxanil or propamocarb were applied to immature potato tubers at green crop lifting, a reduction of both black scurf and Pythium- or Phytophthora-incited tuber rot was observed at harvest. In conclusion, the biocontrol fungus V. biguttatum is compatible with selected chemical control systems and may improve control efficacy in combination with Rhizoctonia-specific fungicides or may extend control spectrum in combination with Oomycete-specific fungicides.     

Effects of different 3-year cropping systems on soil microbial communities and rhizoctonia diseases of potato

ABSTRACT Eight different 3-year cropping systems, consisting of soybean-canola, soybean-barley, sweet corn-canola, sweet corn-soybean, green bean-sweet corn, canola-sweet corn, barley-clover, and continuous potato (non-rotation control) followed by potato as the third crop in all systems, were established in replicated field plots with two rotation entry points in Presque Isle, ME, in 1998. Cropping system effects on soil microbial community characteristics based on culturable soil microbial populations, single carbon source substrate utilization (SU) profiles, and whole-soil fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) profiles were evaluated in association with the development of soilborne diseases of potato in the 2000 and 2001 field seasons. Soil populations of culturable bacteria and overall microbial activity were highest following barley, canola, and sweet corn crops, and lowest following continuous potato. The SU profiles derived from BIOLOG ECO plates indicated higher substrate richness and diversity and greater utilization of certain carbohydrates, carboxylic acids, and amino acids associated with barley, canola, and some sweet corn rotations, indicating distinct differences in functional attributes of microbial communities among cropping systems. Soil FAME profiles also demonstrated distinct differences among cropping systems in their relative composition of fatty acid types and classes, representing structural attributes of microbial communities. Fatty acids most responsible for differentiation among cropping systems included 12:0, 16:1 omega5c, 16:1 omega7c, 18:1 omega9c, and 18:2omega6c. Based on FAME biomarkers, barley rotations resulted in higher fungi-to-bacteria ratios, sweet corn resulted in greater mycorrhizae populations, and continuous potato produced the lowest amounts of these and other biomarker traits. Incidence and severity of stem and stolon canker and black scurf of potato, caused by Rhizoctonia solani, were reduced for most rotations relative to the continuous potato control. Potato crops following canola, barley, or sweet corn provided the lowest levels of Rhizoctonia disease and best tuber quality, whereas potato crops following clover or soybean resulted in disease problems in some years. Both rotation crop and cropping sequence were important in shaping the microbial characteristics, soilborne disease, and tuber qualities. Several microbial parameters, including microbial populations and SU and FAME profile characteristics, were correlated with potato disease or yield measurements in one or both harvest years. In this study, we have demonstrated distinctive effects of specific rotation crops and cropping sequences on microbial communities and have begun to relate the implications of these changes to crop health and productivity.     

Relationships between stem canker, stolon canker, black scurf (Rhizoctonia solani) and yield of potato (Solanum tuberosum) under different agronomic conditions

Relationships between diseases caused by Rhizoctonia solani on different parts of potato plants ( Solanum tuberosum ) at different stages of crop growth were investigated under selected agronomic conditions. The effects of different densities of tuber-borne inoculum, date of planting, irrigation, size of seed tubers and their interactions on the incidence of stem and stolon canker during crop growth, the incidence and severity of black scurf and the yield of progeny tubers at harvest were quantified in a multifactorial experiment. Differences in the incidence of stem canker, stolon canker and black scurf were dominated by the effect of density of inoculum on seed tubers at planting. Highly positive correlations between the disease variables indicated a close relationship between the incidence of disease at each stage of crop growth although the degree of association between variables measured at an early growth stage and those measured at progressively later stages of crop growth weakened as the time interval increased. Total yield of progeny tubers was not affected by the density of tuber-borne inoculum although there was a shift in the size distribution, with a decrease in the yield of main-sized tubers and an increase in the yield of baker- and oversized tubers at the higher density of inoculum. Of the remaining factors, the effect of season tended to be more pronounced than any of the agronomic treatments although the use of irrigation and later dates of planting did influence the incidence of infection to a limited extent.     

西兰花轮作及其残体还田对土壤中病原菌微菌核数量、黄萎病发生及马铃薯产量的影响

为明确西兰花轮作及其残体还田对土壤中病原菌大丽轮枝菌Verticillium dahliae微菌核数量、马铃薯黄萎病发生以及马铃薯产量的影响,分别于2017-2018年和2018-2019年在内蒙古自治区乌兰察布市凉城县岱海镇元山子农场人工病圃和锡林郭勒盟正蓝旗上都镇菜园村自然病圃开展田间试验,利用NP-10培养基测定不同处理土壤中的大丽轮枝菌微菌核数量,并对马铃薯地上叶片和地下块茎上黄萎病的发病率、病情指数以及马铃薯总产量和商品薯产量进行调查。结果显示,以马铃薯连作方式为对照,西兰花轮作及其残体还田后土壤中大丽轮枝菌微菌核的数量明显减少,其中在人工病圃于7、8和9月调查时分别降低了8.46%、36.41%和36.27%,在自然病圃于7、8和9月调查时则分别降低了7.22%、38.06%和48.84%;马铃薯地上叶片和地下块茎上黄萎病的发病率和病情指数均显著降低,在人工病圃对黄萎病的防效为32.91%和54.82%,在自然病圃对黄萎病的防效为46.72%和34.78%;马铃薯总产量和商品薯产量均有所提高,在人工病圃分别增产27.74%和40.08%,在自然病圃分别增产7.12%和8.77%。表明西兰花作为理想的轮作作物可应用于马铃薯黄萎病的有效防控。     

Influence of abiotic factors,inoculum source,and cultivar susceptibility on the potato tuber blemish diseases black dot (Colletotrichum coccodes) and silver scurf (Helminthosporium solani)

Black dot and silver scurf are potato blemish diseases whose economic impact has increased in recent years. Because their symptomatology on tubers is visually similar, disease assessment does not usually differentiate between the two pathogens, which share the same ecological niche. The epidemiology of black dot has been extensively studied, especially in the UK, but the factors that influence silver scurf have been less investigated. In this study, the influence of cultivar, source of inoculum, and environmental conditions on both diseases was studied in field trials over a three-year period (2016–2018) in Switzerland. Planting minitubers did not prevent either disease in daughter tubers, indicating the contribution of soil as an inoculum reservoir. An arbitrary threshold of Colletotrichum coccodes soil inoculum could be set to discriminate between low and high disease risk. For the first time, Helminthosporium solani DNA was detected in stolons, and infections appeared earlier in stolons than in tubers. H. solani stolon and tuber infections usually appeared later in the season than those of C. coccodes. Black dot severity correlated positively with precipitation, while silver scurf severity correlated positively with temperature. Table potato cultivars commonly grown in Switzerland exhibited significant differences in susceptibility to both diseases, and cultivars with low susceptibility to both silver scurf and black dot were identified. These results gave new insights into understanding the factors driving the epidemiology of potato blemish diseases and may contribute to building a risk assessment scheme to manage both diseases simultaneously.     

Relation between cropping frequency of peas and other legumes and foot and root rot in peas

The relation between the frequency of legume crops in a rotation and the root rot severity in pea was examined in a field survey. Additionally, greenhouse experiments were performed with soil samples from legume rotation trials or from farmers' fields. The frequency of pea crops in current rotations proved to be much less than the recommended value of one in six years. The correlation between pea root rot and the number of years that pea or other legumes were not grown on the field under consideration (called crop interval) was weak. Root rot severity correlated better with the frequency of peas or legumes in general over a period of 18 years, but the frequency still explained only a minor fraction of the variation in disease index. Some experimental data pointed to the occurrence of a highly specific pathogen microflora with continuous cropping of only one legume species, but this phenomenon probably does not occur in farmers' fields. In field samples, root disease index for pea correlated well with that for field bean. The survival of resting structures of pathogens such asAphanomyces euteiches probably explains why the frequency of legume cropping has a higher impact than crop interval on root disease incidence. Pea-free periods and legume frequencies have a poor predictive value for crop management purposes.     

The determination of imazalil on potatoes and its use in controlling potato storage diseases

Methods are described for the extraction and analysis by gas-liquid and high-pressure liquid chromatography of the fungicide imazalil, 1-(β-allyloxy-2, 4-dishlorophenethyl) imidazole, on potatoes. Before storage, over 80% was recovered from potatoes treated with 0.01–3.0 mg imazalil kg^?1, with a detection limit of 2 μg kg^?1. Imazalil applied to potatoes at 10 g t^?1 before storage decreased the incidence of gangrene (Phoma exigua), silver scurf (Helminthosporium solani), skin spot (Polyscytalum pustulans) and black scurf (Rhizoctonia solani), and was at least as effective as thiabendazole applied at 40 g t^?1. At 1 g t^?1 it also decreased skin spot and silver scurf. Incidence of black dot (Colletotrichum coccodes) was unaffected by these fungicide treatments.     

Genetic variability and pathogenicity of Rhizoctonia solani associated with black scurf of potato in New Zealand

Isolates (a total of 129) of Rhizoctonia solani were collected from black scurf on potato tubers from different potato‐growing regions in New Zealand. Sequence analysis of the nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (rDNA–ITS) regions from these isolates identified three anastomosis groups (AGs), AG‐3PT, AG‐2‐1 and AG‐5. Isolates classified as AG‐3PT were widely distributed, whereas AG‐2‐1 and AG‐5 were confined to distinct locations. Sequence heterogeneity was identified in the ITS regions of 100 AG‐3PT and AG‐2‐1 isolates. Variation in the sequence and length of the rDNA–IGS1 region was also observed for selected isolates of AG‐3PT and AG‐2‐1. Phylogenetic studies found all AG‐2‐1 isolates belong to AG‐2Nt, a subset of AG‐2‐1 previously associated with solanaceous crops in other countries. AG‐2‐1 isolates were consistently more aggressive than those of AG‐3PT. Delayed emergence, severe infection on stolons, formation of aerial tubers and considerable yield losses were associated with AG‐2‐1, but they caused negligible black scurf. In contrast, AG‐3PT caused black scurf on progeny tubers but variable effects on stem emergence and stolons. Furthermore, AG‐2‐1 isolates caused severe tuber malformation, but isolates of other AGs did not. This is the first report on the AG composition, genetic variability and pathogenicity of R. solani isolates associated with black scurf of New Zealand potatoes.     

Anastomosis Groups, Pathogenicity and Sensitivity to Fungicides of Rhizoctonia solani Isolates Collected on Potato Crops in France

A collection of 241 isolates of Rhizoctonia solani obtained from potato plants grown in different areas in France was characterized for anastomosis grouping, symptomatology on tubers of different cultivars and sensitivity to three fungicides. Most isolates collected belonged to (anastomosis groups (AGs)) AG 3, but 2% and 4% of the isolates were AG 5 and AG 2-1. AG 3 and AG 2-1 isolates were mostly obtained from sclerotia on tubers, but all AG 5, some AG 3 and some AG 2-1 isolates were recovered from superficial tuber alterations, like deformations, corky or scabby lesions. Sclerotia were formed on tubers produced by healthy stem cuttings grown in soil artificially infested with AG 3, but not on tubers grown in soil infested with either AG 5 or AG 2-1. No variation in susceptibility to sclerotial formation was observed among five potato cultivars. In all cases, a large proportion of tubers showed superficial corky lesions, often associated with deformations. The proportion of tubers with lesions and deformations was highest in soil infested with AG 2-1 and significantly lower on cv. Samba in all treatments. All isolates were highly sensitive to flutolanil, iprodione and pencycuron, except the AG 5 isolates, moderately sensitive to pencycuron. These results show that, although AG 3 is the most common R. solani group on potato in France, AG 5 and AG 2-1 may be present. Isolates differed for pathogenicity. In vitro sensitivity to fungicides varied among AGs.     

Uptake of iprodione and control of diseases on potato stems

When applied to the roots of potato plants growing in different soils iprodione became systemic in the plants. Although iprodione was adsorbed on the soils tested, sufficient fungicide was present in potato stems to prevent infection by Phoma exigua var. foveata on all plants except those grown in peat soils. The amount of fungicide present in the aerial parts of the plant was related to the soil/water distribution coefficients. Application of iprodione to the sprouts of seed potato tubers prior to planting decreased the incidence and severity of infection by Rhizoctonia solani (stem canker) and Polyscytalum pustulans on stem bases.     

Biotrophic mycoparasitism byVerticillium biguttatum onRhizoctonia solani

Verticillium biguttatum cannot utilise cellulose or nitrate-nitrogen and it requires biotin for growth, yet it grew and sporulated abundantly onRhizoctonia solani on cellulose, obtaining at least organic carbon, nitrogen and biotin fromR. solani. Videomicroscopy of inter-hyphal interactions on films of water agar showed thatV. biguttatum behaved as a biotrophic mycoparasite. From germinating spores, it penetrated the hyphae ofR. solani and formed haustorium-like branches without killing the host cells, and the haustoria supported an external mycelial network of the mycoparasite. Later the mycoparasite sporulated, and the infected host cells died. On cellulosic substrataV. biguttatum did not reduce the growth ofR. solani, and often enhanced the rate of cellulose degradation. However,V. biguttatum drastically reduced the production of sclerotia byR. solani, often completely suppressing sclerotium production when the mycoparasite infected only a localized region of the host colony. This is ascribed to the creation of a nutrient sink by the parasite, consistent with biotrophy. On plates of cellulose agar the suppression of sclerotia was not confined to parasitized colonies but extended to adjacent colonies ofR. solani that had successfully anastomosed with the parasitized colony. There was no effect on adjacent vegetatively incompatible colonies, where attempted anastomoses caused cytoplasmic death. In comparable experiments the necrotrophic mycoparasiteGliocladium roseum had no long-distance effect on sclerotium production byR. solani.Suppression of sclerotium production may explain the reported success ofV. biguttatum in biocontrol of black scurf of potato in experimental field conditions.     

Prevalence of fungal and fungus‐like diseases on potato seed tubers imported from Europe to Jordan

A total of 109 samples of potato seed tubers imported to Jordan from France, Netherlands and Denmark during the 2007/2008 growing seasons were surveyed for 10 different diseases caused by fungi and fungus‐like organisms to determine the prevalence of different tuberborne diseases and to evaluate the efficacy of the current visual examination procedures in detecting different potato diseases. The results demonstrated that most potato seed tuber lots imported to Jordan were infected with one or more of the following potato pests: Colletotrichum coccodes (black dot) (66.0%), Rhizoctonia solani (black scurf) (42.4%), Helminthosporium solani (silver scurf) (92.6%), and Spongospora subterranea (powdery scab) (13.8%). Just over a quarter (25.7%) of all lots examined in this study were found to exceed the acceptance limits for one or more potato diseases according to the Jordanian standards. This study suggests that the current visual examination procedure is not adequate to detect all tuberborne diseases of potato and to estimate their incidence and severity precisely.     

Phosphite compounds reduce disease severity in potato seed tubers and foliage

Phosphites (Phi) are alkali metal salts of phosphorous acid, with the ability to protect plants against different pathogens. In this research, the effect of Phi applied to potato plants on severity of three important potato diseases in Argentina was assessed. Seed tubers and foliage of potato cvs Shepody and Kennebec were treated with Phi to assess effects on resistance against Phytophthora infestans, Fusarium solani and Rhizoctonia solani. Protection resulting from Phi treatment in seed tubers was high against P. infestans, intermediate against F. solani, and low against R. solani. In addition, seed tubers treated with calcium or potassium phosphites (CaPhi and KPhi, respectively) at 1% of commercial product emerged earlier than untreated ones. When Phi were foliarly applied two or four times at different doses, high levels of protection against P. infestans were achieved in both cultivars. Higher protection was observed in Kennebec when CaPhi was applied, while in Shepody this was true for KPhi. Expression of β-1,3-glucanases was induced at different times after treatment but no correlation between β-1,3-glucanases expression and foliar protection level was found. On the other hand, Phi positive protection effects did not produce negative effects in plant growth. Leaves from CaPhi-treated plants showed a darker green colour than leaves from control plants; also an increase in Rubisco protein and a delay in crop senescence was observed.     

Interactions Between the Potato Cyst Nematode Globodera rostochiensis and Diseases Caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG3 in Potatoes Under Field Conditions

Findings from 2 years of field experiments investigating the relationship between Globodera rostochiensis and Rhizoctonia solani on unique field sites are reported. In 2000, a field experiment was positioned on land that had previously been used for experimental work investigating integrated potato cyst nematode (PCN) management methods. This study had produced an ‘untypical’ mosaic of PCN population densities ranging from 5 to 221 eggs g⁻¹ soil. In 2001, the field experiment was conducted on a different field site and overlaid on a focus of G. rostochiensis population densities ranging from 11 to 108 eggs g⁻¹ soil. In each experiment, potatoes (cv. Désirée) were grown in plots with similar population densities of G. rostochiensis that were either uninoculated or inoculated with R. solani. A series of potato plant harvests were undertaken to investigate the effects of nematode infestation on the incidence and severity of R. solani diseases and the associated development of plants. In both experiments, a clear relationship was found between the density of G. rostochiensis juveniles present in potato roots and the incidence of stolons infected by R. solani, 6 weeks after planting. For the first time this interaction has been determined under field conditions. The results of the study suggest that the interaction between nematode and fungus is indirect and possible mechanisms are discussed.     

A new quantitative real-time PCR assay for Rhizoctonia solani AG3-PT and the detection of AGs of Rhizoctonia solani associated with potato in soil and tuber samples in Great Britain

Rhizoctonia solani is an important pathogen of potatoes causing stem canker and black scurf. The fungus is a species complex comprised of 13 known anastomosis groups (AGs). AG3-PT is the anastomosis group frequently associated with disease in potatoes. A real-time PCR assay was designed to the rDNA ITS region of AG3-PT isolates to enable the pathogen to be detected directly in tuber and soil samples. The resulting assay was highly specific for AG3-PT, and did not amplify DNA from isolates from other AGs or subgroups of AG3. Using a bulk DNA extraction method capable of extracting from up to 250 g of soil, the assay could detect one individual sclerotium of AG3-PT (weighing 200 μg) in 250 g of soil. The AG3-PT assay was used, with assays for AG2-1, AG5 and AG8 to determine the prevalence of those AGs in UK potato soils and tubers. AG2-1 and AG3-PT were the predominant groups in tubers and soils, although AG3-PT was more frequently isolated from tubers, highlighting its importance as a potato pathogen. AG3-PT was also detected in more than half of the tuber samples tested suggesting the importance of seed borne inoculum.     

Biological diversity of Rhizoctonia solani (AG-3) in a northern potato-cultivation environment in Finland

A total of 119 isolates of Rhizoctonia were collected from stem canker lesions, stolon and root lesions, hymenia on stems, or from black scurf on tubers of potato plants ( Solanum tuberosum ) in Finland (latitudes 60–67°N). All isolates except three belonged to anastomosis group 3 (AG-3) of R. solani , as determined by phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer sequences (ITS1 and ITS2) of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. Sensitivity of the 119 isolates to the fungicide flutolanil was tested in vitro (EC₅₀ values 0·14–0·75  µ g active ingredient mL⁻¹). The isolates also varied considerably in growth rate (5·1–14·8 mm day⁻¹). The severity of disease caused by 99 isolates was determined based on the proportion of potato sprouts affected by lesions, discoloration or death, which was c . 1–60%. Only two isolates that were able to cause severe symptoms showed particularly low sensitivity to the fungicide and rapid growth rate. One isolate each of anastomosis groups AG-2-1 and AG-5 and an unknown, binucleate Rhizoctonia sp. were detected. The AG-5 isolate and the binucleate isolate caused mild symptoms on potato sprouts, whereas the AG-2-1 isolate was not pathogenic. Taken together, AG-3 of R. solani was the predominant causal agent of the stem canker and black scurf diseases of potato in Finland and showed considerable variability in disease severity, fungicide sensitivity and growth rate in vitro .     

Hyperparasites of Rhizoctonia solani in Dutch potato fields

Gliocladium roseum was found to be the most common and probably the most effective mycoparasite in potato fields in the northern parts of the Netherlands. It is able to parasitize and kill living hyphae at temperatures of 12°C and higher. Sclerotia ofR. solani are often infected and killed by this fungus under suitable conditions, i.e. at temperatures of 16°C and more. Killing of sclerotia by other antagonistic organisms was also observed. It is also shown by not parasitic fungi and is caused by toxins produced by the antagonist.The development of theG. roseum population was studied during the growth of a potato crop in two soils. In both soils its initial level was very low. In both a slightly acid sandy soil and a neutral sandy loam, suppression ofR. solani can occur;G. roseum accumulated in the former mainly under continuous potato crops,Colletotrichum coccodes was the main antagonist in the latter.Samenvatting In de meeste Nederlandse aardappelakkers komen schimmels voor dieRhizoctonia solani kunnen aantasten en doden. De meest algemene, en waarschijnlijk ook de meest belangrijke, die we tot nu toe vonden, isGliocladium roseum (Tabel 1). Het is bekend, dat deze schimmel stoffen produceert die voorR. solani giftig zijn. Met behulp hiervan kanG. roseum, evenals andere antibiotisch actieve micro-organismen, ook de sclerotiën doden (Tabel 2). Voor doding doorG. roseum is de temperatuur een factor van belang. Hyfen worden nog gedood bij een temperatuur van 12°C, waarbij de sclerotiën niet meer aangetast kunnen worden. Gedurende het winterseizoen worden sclerotiën door deze schimmel naar alle waarschijnlijkheid niet gedood.De ontwikkeling van de populatie vanG. roseum en andere antagonisten vanR. solani werd gevolgd in aardappelvelden op een licht zure zandgrond en op een neutrale zware zavel. Op de zandgrond werden twee proefplekken bemonsterd: één waarop voor het vierde achtereenvolgende jaar aardappelen werden geteeld en één met een vruchtwisselingsschema van graan, bieten en aardappelen.In de zandgrond nam in het groeiseizoen de populatie vanG. roseum toe. Op de proefplek waar voor het vierde jaar achtereen aardappelen stonden werdR. solani vanaf half augustus onderdrukt, evenwel niet volledig. Ook in het vruchtwisselingsstuk breiddeG. roseum zich flink uit, doch een onderdrukking vanR. solani werd niet bereikt.In de zware zavel nam de populatie vanG. roseum niet toe. Hier werdR. solani — uit besmet pootgoed — onderdrukt doorColletotrichum coccodes (zelf een pathogeen van stolonen) en antagonistische bacteriën. De resultaten zijn vermeld in Tabel 3.De besmetting van de geoogste knollen met sclerotiën, zoals die voorkwam op de zandgrond, is in Tabel 4 vermeld. Op de zavel leverde schoon pootgoed een bijna schone oogst (2% van de knollen was zeer licht bezet met sclerotiën). Besmet pootgoed leverde een oogst met 58% schone knollen, 35% met een zeer lichte en 7% met een iets zwaardere sclerotiënbezetting. Hoewel uit 100% besmet pootgoed een veel schonere oogst werd verkregen, was eerder toch een beschadiging van het gewas opgetreden. Pas tegen het eind van het groeiseizoen werdR. solani flink onderdrukt.