Biotic interactions affecting potato production

Pest/pathogen interactions affecting potato production are reviewed. Many reported interactions in potatoes and other crops are best termed associations or interrelationships. True synergistics interactions can be expressed as Y = b₁ x₁ + b₂ x₂ + b₃ (x₁ x₂) + - b_n x_n + e in which Y is a measure of plant growth, b₁, b₂, b_n are constants, x₁, x₂, x_n are independent variables and e is the error term. Examples of interactions including pathogen vectors, and various interactions involving different viruses and biotic taxa and among biotic taxa (e.g., virus-virus, virus-fungus, fungusbacteria, and nematode-fungus) in potatoes are cited. It is included that important interactions do occur in potato production systems and that additional research is needed to identify unknown interacting factors and to elucidate mechanisms of those previously described. Particular needs exist for holistic or synoptic studies to identify the role of interacting factors in total crop management.