Certainly, here is an article on the information regarding disease control in potato.
Awareness and application of measures for disease control are crucial for potato growers. Potatoes are highly susceptible to pests and diseases, which can result in reduced yield and quality. Potatoes are affected by several fungal, bacterial, and viral diseases, which can impact the economic viability of farms. Understanding the common diseases, their symptoms, and management practices can help farmers effectively counteract the disease pressure.
Early Blight
Early blight is caused by the fungus, Alternaria solani, which can infect both the leaves and stems of potato plants. Early blight is one of the most common diseases of potato crops worldwide. The symptoms of early blight usually appear 2-3 weeks after solitary spores emerge on the foliage. Patches of brown-black discoloration appear on the foliage and eventually turn into a ring pattern as the lesion enlarges.
Crop rotation, fungicide application, and removing infected plant tissue are effective measures to control early blight. Crop rotation helps reduce the population of the disease-causing fungus, especially when growers avoid planting potatoes in fields that have recently grown potatoes. Fungicides applied once or twice weekly can reduce early blight pressure by limiting the number of spores that germinate. Removing infected plant tissue can also hinder the spread of early blight, and it is recommended to remove and dispose of infected foliage.
Late Blight
Late blight is introduced to potato fields by initial inoculum from infested seed or windborne spores from other infected fields. Phytophthora infestans, the fungus that causes late blight, rapidly spreads, such that large areas may become defoliated in a few days. The disease is evident on leaves, stems, petioles, and even the developing tubers. Late blight has been the cause of some of the most devastating famines in history.
The management of late blight should begin early since the pathogen can attack potatoes at any stage from pre-emergence to the storage phase. Fungicide applications, resistant varieties, crop rotation, and high-density planting are effective measures to control late blight.
Black Scurf
Rhizoctonia solani causes black scurf, which is a fungal disease that infects the roots, stolons, and sometimes asymptomatic tubers. The disease usually occurs when the soil temperature is warm and moist. Symptoms include raised black or dark brown, irregularly shaped, rough, or corky lesions on the surface of the tubers.
Crop rotation, fungicide application, seed tuber sanitation, and soil sterilization are effective measures to control black scurf. Crop rotation can help reduce the level of inoculum in the soil, while fungicides will play a crucial role in reducing the pressure of the disease.
In conclusion, potato growers must be aware of the disease-causing pathogens, associated symptoms, and available control measures. Timely intervention to minimize the spread of diseases like early and late blight and black scurf can significantly improve the yield and quality of potato crops. Regular scouting of fields for disease symptoms and implementing preventative measures go a long way towards healthy and productive potato crops.