Controlling potato tuber blemish diseases on cv. Estima with chemical and non-chemical methods

In 3 years, seed tubers were treated or not with imazalil in March or April, sprouted and planted in field experiments. Tubers were harvested on several dates and cured under different conditions for 2 wk, or not cured, before storage for 6 months. In some years effects of irrigation, seed tuber size and seed stock were tested. Fungicide seed treatment decreased silver scurf, and was most effective in 1989 when the seed had little infection and the season was dry, but the treatment increased black dot. Silver scurf and black dot were decreased by harvesting early and also by drying tubers before storage (dry curing), and these practices also sometimes decreased black scurf and skin spot. The effects of fungicide seed treatment and of dry curing were greater the earlier the tubers were harvested. Irrigation decreased silver scurf and in one year decreased black scurf but greatly increased black dot. Silver scurf, black dot and skin spot were more common on tubers from large than small seed whereas black scurf was most common on tubers from small seed. In 2 years tubers were affected with a brown superficial blemish (golding blotch). This developed on the undersides of tubers in soil and was decreased by irrigation. Its cause is not known.     

Stem canker (Rhizoctonia solani) on five early and seven maincrop potato cultivars. II Effects on growth and yield

In 1983 and 1984, potato seed tubers of five early and seven maincrop cultivars were inoculated with cultures of Rhizoctonia solani during planting in field experiments to simulate severe seed infection. The size of foliage was assessed during June-August and tuber yields recorded during growth and at harvest in October. Stem canker delayed shoot emergence, decreased the number and length of stems and caused increased variation in stem length; these effects were greatest with Maris Peer and Arran Comet (early cultivars) and King Edward and Pentland Squire (maincrop cultivars). Total weight of foliage was decreased, especially with earlies, dry matter of stems increased and the proportion of foliage on lateral stems increased. With the early cultivars, tuber yield from sprouted Maris Peer seed 11 wk after planting in 1983 was decreased by 24%, and 13 wk after planting in 1984 yields were decreased by 42% (Maris Peer), 40% (Ulster Sceptre), 34% (Estima), 30% (Arran Comet) and 17% (Ulster Prince) with sprouted seed and by 20, 29, 53, 39 and 28% respectively with non-sprouted seed. Decrease in total yield at harvest in October averaged 13% with sprouted seed and 10% with non-sprouted seed. In all cultivars the weight of small tubers was decreased and with Estima the weight of large tubers was increased. Tuber bulking was also delayed with all maincrop cultivars and at harvest yields from sprouted King Edward seed were decreased by 13% in 1983 and by 16% (sprouted seed) and 23% (non-sprouted seed) in 1984; yields of Pentland Squire were decreased by 5, 16 and 21% respectively. Yield losses with other cultivars ranged from 5–13% with sprouted seed and 0–16% with non-sprouted seed. The yields of small tubers were decreased with all cultivars and yields of large tubers were increased with Pentland Squire, Pentland Crown and Cara.     

Soaking of seed potatoes in phosphate solution to economise on the fertilizer input

Summary The effect of soaking seed tubers in P solution on tuber yield, P uptake and fertilizer economy was investigated on acid brown hill soil and alluvial soil from 1972 through 1975. Nondormant whole seed tubers soaked in 0.4 percent P solution of mono- and diammonium phosphate and of filtered superphosphate increased tuber yield and P uptake. The effect of the soaking on increasing the P composition of seed tubers was most pronounced in the case of monoammonium phosphates solution. Cut seed tuber pieces absorbed more P than the whole seed tubers. On highly P-deficient acid brown hill soil, soaking affored to economise on P application by about 25 kg P₂O₅/ha, applied to soil whereas on marginally deficient alluvial soil, a soaking treatment was adequate and obviated the need of soil application of P.     

The Influence of the Inoculum Source of Rhizoctonia solani on Development of Black Scurf on Potato

Rhizoctonia solani, the causal agent of stem canker and black scurf on potato, survives as sclerotia on tubers, in soil and in plant residues. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the importance of inoculum source on disease development. Disease‐free minitubers and seed tubers contaminated with low levels of R. solani were planted in fumigated or artificially inoculated growth mixture in greenhouse experiments. Black scurf incidence and severity were significantly higher when the inoculum was present in both seed tubers and soil, compared with either of them separately. The severity of disease symptoms on the subterranean parts of the plant also were significantly higher in plots where both seed tubers and soil were contaminated, compared with plots where the inoculum source was either the seed tubers or the soil. Thus, both major sources of inoculum, seed tubers and soil, are important in disease development. However, when both sources are present, black scurf incidence and severity are increased, leading to economical damage to tuber yield and quality. Additional results from field trials support these findings. Disease incidence and severity on daughter tubers were correlated with levels of contamination in seed tubers and soil. When seed tubers and soil were heavily infested, the levels of black scurf incidence and severity on daughter tubers were very high; when seed tuber and soil infestation were very low, black scurf incidence and severity on progeny were also lower. Disease levels were reduced by in‐furrow fungicide treatment, but were less effective when the initial levels of the fungus on the seed tubers and in the soil were high.     

The phenology of skin spot (Oospora pustulans Owen &Wakef.) and other fungal diseases of potato tubers

Underground stems and roots of the potato varieties King Edward and Majestic became more severely infected by Oospora pustulans (skin spot) as the growing season advanced. Tubers became infected at their initiation in June and July but the proportion of infected eyes usually increased during both the growth of the crop and bulk storage. Some buds on tubers in bulk stores died in December, but few were killed until after January, when attacks increased until by March about a quarter of Majestic eyes were usually dead. Boxing (chitting) not only prevented most eyes from dying but also prevented much skin spotting on tubers. At High Mowthorpe, Majestic seed unboxed or boxed in March yielded, respectively, 3 and 1 ton/acre less than seed boxed by January. Early boxing increased the yield of seed–sized tubers but did not affect the infection of progeny tubers. Dipping Majestic seed tubers in organo–mercurial fungicide and then boxing soon after lifting decreased their infection by O. pustulans; it also lessened infection on plants they produced and increased the yield of progeny seed–sized tubers. However, dipping, even in successive years, had little effect on the infection of progeny tubers by O. pustulans. Rhizoctonia solani and Helminihosporum atrovirens became increasingly prevalent on tubers during growth after July and during bulk storage. H. atrovirens was decreased by early boxing or dipping tubers in fungicide. Verticillate conidiophores often grew on incubated tuber plugs but their prevalence was affected by past storage. The results suggest that some of the benefit for chitting may be from disease control, it was not possible to measure the extent to which benefits from chitting depend on effects on disease or on the physiology of the tuber.     

Factors affecting the field infection of potato tubers of different cultivars by blight (Phytophthora infestans)

The relationships between rain and blight (Phytophthora infestans) were studied in unsprayed crops of cultivars differing widely in foliage and tuber susceptibility. The occasions when tubers were infected depended on rain and not cultivar, but numbers of tubers infected after rain was affected by the blight susceptibility of the cultivar. Infected tubers were first found when less than 5 % (BMS key) of the potato foliage was infected but few fresh infections occurred when 50–75% of the foliage had been destroyed. Some tubers were infected after 8 mm rain (tubers near the surface with even less) but large increases in numbers of tubers infected usually occurred only after 25 mm or more had increased soil moisture to above ‘field capacity’ around the tuber for at least 24 h. The most susceptible cultivars Ulster Ensign and Arran Banner had all plants with some tuber blight, and some plants with all tubers affected and often many lesions per tuber. Cultivars of intermediate susceptibility, King Edward and Up-to-Date, had some plants without blighted tubers, many with a few and very few with all. The more resistant cultivars Majestic and Arran Viking had many plants without infected tubers and many lesions that aborted while still necrotic threads, so that the fungus did not spread. Most infections occurred through tuber eyes, lenticels or sometimes growth cracks. The distribution of blight lesions on tubers differed in the different seasons, for example, lenticels were most commonly infected on Arran Banner and Ulster Ensign and eyes on King Edward, Majestic and Arran Viking. In late or slowly developing attacks, lesions on stems became more numerous and larger than in fast, early attacks and were prolific sources of spores on King Edward and Up-to-Date but not on Majestic and Arran Viking. Because much rain water runs down the stems of Up-to-Date and King Edward, stem lesions can provide an important source of inoculum for tubers.     

Response of potatoes to N fertilizer: Dynamic model

Summary A simulation model is described to interpret N fertilizer experiments on potatoes. It calculates the total growth of dry matter, the N uptake, the partition of dry matter and of N between tuber and foliage and the distribution of inorganic N down the profile for each day during the growing season.The validity of the model was tested against measurements of these parameters made at approximately fortnightly intervals on plots that received N fertilizer and those that received none in 4 experiments on a sand, 4 on a sandy loam and 3 on a clay soil.Simulated values were in reasonably good agreement with the measured values in all experiments. Overall the sums of squares of the differences between the simulated and measured values of the %N in the total plant, and the total amount of inorganic N in the top metre of soil and the logarithms of the total weight of dry matter, tuber dry weight, N uptake in the entire plant and N uptake in the tubers were each less than 25% of the sum of squares of the measured values about the mean.Only 9 inputs were required for the model. It was found essential to take account of differences in spring and summer leaching but not of inter-site differences in mineralization rate.     

Effects of ethylene on tuberization in radish (Raphanus sativus)

The effects of ethylene on the elongation of radish hypocotyls and on dry matter partitioning between tubers and shoots were analysed in order to gain insight into the possible role of ethylene in the regulation of tuberization. Treatment of very young seedlings with ethylene results in heavier tubers (Vreugdenhil et al. 1984). Here we report that addition of ethylene or ethephon two days after germination inhibited the elongation of the hypocotyl; trapping of endogenously produced ethylene had a stimulative effect on elongation. Ethephon, sprayed at a later stage, changed the partitioning of assimilates between tubers and shoots, resulting in lower tuber weights. It is concluded that ethylene had a dual effect on tuberization in radish: at a very early stage of development it inhibited elongation of the hypocotyl, resulting in earlier tuber formation and heavier tubers. At a later stage, it had a negative effect on tuber weight by changing dry matter partitioning.     

Carbon source for reproduction in a spring ephemeral herb, Corydalis ambigua (Papaveraceae)

1.  The carbon source for reproduction in plants may differ between flowering and fruiting stages. To clarify how spring ephemerals use current photosynthetic products for reproduction, the allocation patterns of photosynthate at flowering and fruiting and the effects of resource limitation on reproductive performance in Corydalis ambigua were assessed.
2.  A ¹³C tracing experiment revealed that about 20% of the current photosynthetic carbon was used for reproduction at both flowering and fruiting. The proportion of ¹³C allocated to fruits was constant irrespective of the light level. In contrast, ¹³C translocation to tubers increased at fruiting, and this trend was accelerated when plants were shaded.
3.  Defoliation treatment significantly reduced nectar production and tuber mass, while seed production was not affected. Therefore, when carbon assimilation was limited, carbon was preferentially allocated to current reproduction (seeds) rather than to pollinator attraction (nectar) or storage (tuber).
4.  If seed production is partly supported by carbohydrate reserved in the old tissue of tubers, nectar and seed production may not compete strongly for carbon sources. In contrast to the ability of high seed production, the susceptibility of nectar production to current photosynthesis indicates that seed production of this species is basically limited by pollen capture.
5.  Therefore, temporal separation of resource pool for reproduction may mitigate the joint limitation of seed production between pollinator attraction and resource availability. Temporal variation of the sink–source balance of storage organ is crucial to understand the cost of reproduction in perennial plants.     

The development of silver scurf (Helminthosporium solani) disease of potato

The main source of inoculum of Helminthosporium solani was the seed tuber; the fungus was not detected in soils in which infected potatoes had been grown the previous year. Lesions spread rapidly on seed tubers after planting, so that within a few weeks the entire surface was covered. As lesions aged they lost the capacity to sporulate, so most inoculum was produced in the first few weeks after planting. Infection of progeny tubers was first detected at the heel (stolon attachment) end soon after their initiation. Once established, lesions spread slowly on the surface of progeny tubers when in the soil; more rapid spread took place during storage. Potatoes which seemed unaffected at lifting became diseased during storage.     

Tuber production,dormancy and resistance against Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) in wild potato species

The diversification of resistant potato varieties at a landscape level could slow adaptation by Phthorimaea operculella to potato resistance and promote sustainable crop protection. In this study, we assessed wild potato species as novel sources of foliage and tuber resistance against P. operculella. Tuber resistance was quantified for 136 and foliage resistance for 54 potato accessions representing 14 and nine potato species, respectively. Several accessions were highly resistant to moth damage in tubers and/or foliage. In particular, Solanum chiquidenum and Solanum sandemanii were highly resistant to damage in tubers. Several accessions of Solanum multiinterruptum and a small number of accessions of Solanum bukasovii, Solanum berthaultii, Solanum sparsipilum and Solanum wittmackii also had highly resistant tubers. Larval survival on foliage of S. bukasovii and S. chiquidenum was generally low. New resistance sources are listed, and insect performance on the plants is described with possible resistance mechanisms. The study also examined potential trade‐offs associated with resistance. Tuber resistance was negatively correlated with the number and weight of tubers produced per plant, but positively correlated with the length of dormancy across accessions, indicating that, although long dormancy is not a prerequisite for resistance, species and accessions with extended dormancy will have more resistant tubers. Tuber and foliage resistance were generally positively correlated across all accessions; however, among accessions from within a potato species, there were negative (S. berthaultii), positive (S. chiquidenum) and non‐significant (S. bukasovii) relations. These results indicate that, besides identifying novel resistance sources, an improved understanding of the mechanisms and inherent trade‐offs associated with tuber and foliage resistance will improve the efficiency of potato breeding programmes aimed at enhancing resistance against P. operculella.     

Changes in Lipid Peroxidation and Lipolytic and Free-Radical Scavenging Enzyme Activities during Aging and Sprouting of Potato (Solanum tuberosum) Seed-Tubers

Previous research has shown that cell membranes of potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv Russet Burbank) seed-tubers lose integrity between 7 and 26 months of storage (4[deg]C, 95% relative humidity), and this loss coincides with a significant decrease in growth potential. The age-induced decline in membrane integrity is apparently due to increased peroxidative damage of membrane lipids. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and ethane concentrations (sensitive markers of lipid peroxidation and membrane damage) increased in seed-tuber tissues with advancing age. Moreover, in vivo ethane production from discs of cortex tissue from 13- and 25-month-old seed-tubers was 87% greater (on average) than that from discs from 1-month-old tubers. Calcium suppressed ethane production from all ages of tissue discs, and the effect was concentration dependent. Linoleic acid enhanced ethane production from 5- and 17-month-old tubers by 61 and 228%, respectively, suggesting that older tissue may contain a higher free-radical (FR) titer and/or lower free polyunsaturated fatty acid content. In addition, throughout plant establishment, the internal ethane concentration of older seed-tubers was 54% higher than that of younger seed-tubers. MDA concentration of tuber tissue declined by about 65% during the initial 7 months of storage and then increased 267% as tuber age advanced to 30 months. The age-induced trend in tuber reducing sugar concentration was similar to that of MDA, and the two were linearly correlated. The age-dependent increase in reducing sugars may thus reflect peroxidative degeneration of the amyloplast membrane, leading to increased starch hydrolysis. Compared with 5-month-old seed tubers, 17- and 29-month-old seed-tubers had significantly higher levels of lipofuscin-like fluorescent compounds (FCs), which are produced when MDA reacts with free amino acids. Age-dependent increases in MDA, ethane, and FCs were not associated with higher activities of phospholipase and lipoxygenase in tissue from older tubers. In fact, 8-month-old seed-tubers had significantly higher activities of these enzymes than 20-month-old seed-tubers. However, the activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase in 20-month-old tubers were substantially higher out of storage, and increased at a faster rate during plant establishment, than in 8-month-old seed-tubers. Collectively, these results suggest that a gradual build-up of FRs leads to peroxidative damage of membrane lipids during aging of potato seed-tubers.     

The role of seed-tuber and stem inoculum in the development of gangrene in potatoes

To determine the relative importance of seed tubers and stems as sources of inoculum for potato gangrene in progeny tubers, different levels of inoculum of Phoma exigua var. foveata were established in field experiments by planting rotting or contaminated seed tubers and by inoculating stems shortly before haulm desiccation. The pathogen was only occasionally detected by isolation from inside green stems in June and July on plants growing from contaminated but unrotted seed. The incidence of pycnidia on desiccated stems increased with increasing concentration of inoculum contaminating seed tubers and with increasing time interval between desiccation and harvest. Stem infection was probably derived from inoculum on seed tubers spreading via the soil to the stem bases. Stem inoculation of plants growing from uninoculated or uncontaminated seed greatly increased both the gangrene potential of progeny tubers (defined as % wounds with gangrene after uniformly damaging tubers and storing them at 5°C for 12 wk), and tuber contamination (defined as % wounds with gangrene after spreading tuber-borne soil onto test tuber slices and storing them at 5°C for 8 wk). However, when stems of plants growing from rotting or contaminated seed were cut at ground level and removed before desiccation, gangrene potential of progeny tubers was only slightly less than that of tubers from untreated plots. There was no evidence that soil inoculum or aerial spread played a significant role in disease development. Gangrene potential and contamination of progeny tubers were related to Contamination levels on seed tubers. Some transmission also occurred from rotted seed tubers to progeny. Inoculum levels around progeny tubers increased rapidly after desiccation even in plots where stems had previously been cut at soil level and removed to eliminate pycnidial development above ground as a source of inoculum. Both gangrene potential and contamination of progeny tubers were greater on cv. Ulster Sceptre than on cv. Pentland Crown. The results showed that the inoculum on seed tubers, whether from rots or surface contamination, contributed more to the contamination of progeny tubers at harvest than did the inoculum from pycnidia on stems following desiccation of the haulm.     

Persistence of Phoma exigua xar. foveata and Polyscytalum pustulans in dry soils from potato stores in relation to reinfection of stocks derived from stem cuttings

The incidence of Phoma exigua var. foveata and Polyscytalum pustulans in dry soil and dust from potato stores was assessed at 10 farms in Scotland producing virus-tested stocks of seed potatoes derived from stem cuttings (VTSC). Samples were collected on three occasions during 1976: during the storage period (February-March), soon after the potatoes were planted (May) and just before the new crop was lifted and stored (August-October). Both pathogens were detected at all three sampling times but P. exigua var. foveata was more frequently detected at the last one than P. pustulans. Soil and dust from various sites within the stores, such as floors, ledges, graders and boxes, were contaminated by these pathogens. Propagules of both pathogens remained airborne for at least 12–17 min after the floors were swept. P. exigua var. foveata remained viable for at least 16 months in dry soil from tuber surfaces stored at 4–6°C. When VTSC tubers were dusted before planting with a dry store soil contaminated by P. exigua var. foveata the gangrene potential of the progeny tubers was much greater than that from untreated tubers or from tubers treated with an uncontaminated soil. The role of inoculum surviving in dry soil is discussed in relation to reinfection of VTSC stocks.     

Control of skin spot and silver scurf on stored cv. King Edward potatoes by chemical and non-chemical methods

In 3 years, seed tubers of cv. King Edward were planted in field experiments and diseases assessed on the daughter tubers after storage for 24–26 wk. In 1991 and 1992, the seed tubers were treated with a mixture of thiabendazole and imazalil at two rates. Tubers were harvested on several dates from late August to early October and dried under different conditions before storage. In 1990, silver scurf after storage was decreased equally by dry curing for 2 wk and windrowing for 2 h whereas skin spot was decreased most by dry curing, and these effects were greater the earlier tubers were harvested. In 1991, dry curing for 2 wk decreased skin spot and silver scurf more than dry curing for 1 wk, and skin spot was slightly decreased by windrowing for 2 h; windrowing improved the control of both diseases when tubers were subsequently dry cured. In 1991 and 1992 fungicide treatment of seed tubers greatly decreased skin spot after storage and was also effective against silver scurf, but increased black dot when tubers were harvested in September or October. Skin spot was controlled equally well by the two rates of fungicide but silver scurf was less well controlled when the dose was decreased by 75%. It is suggested that amounts of fungicide applied to seed tubers could be decreased provided that the efficiency of application is improved and that crops are harvested early and dried before storage.     

Effects of treating seed potatoes from commercial and stem cutting stocks with benomyl, thiabendazole and 2-aminobutane on yield and disease

Potato seed tubers of six cultivars from commercial stocks and from stocks derived from stem cuttings (healthier seed) were fumigated with 2-aminobutane 2 wk after lifting or treated with benomyl or thiabendazole in January. 2-aminobutane prevented skin spot and gangrene developing on treated tubers. Experiments were planted at Rothamsted (clay with flints soil) and at Woburn (sandy loam soil) in 1973–75. Healthier seed produced more stems/plant than commercial stocks and yielded on average 8% more at Rothamsted in 1973 and 1974 and respectively 5 and 10% more at Woburn in 1973 and 1975. Seed treatments did not consistently affect stem numbers or increase yield although all treatments tended to decrease tuber size. Infection of stem bases and tubers by Polyscytalum pustulans and Rhizoctonia solani was usually less from healthier than from commercial seed and was decreased by benomyl and thiabendazole in 1973 and 1974. Infection by Helminthosporium solani of the skin around tuber eyes was greater from healthier than from commercial seed but was decreased by benomyl and thiabendazole. 2-aminobutane sometimes decreased infection of tubers by P. pustulans and R. solani but neither of stem bases nor of tubers by H. solani. Gangrene on tubers uniformly wounded at lifting was not consistently affected by seed source or seed treatment. Treating seed with benomyl or thiabendazole in 1975 decreased skin spot and black scurf in tubers stored until March 1976. These treatments also decreased silver scurf on the produce of commercial seed at Rothamsted but gangrene was not consistently affected by seed treatments.     

Correlative integration in dormant tubers of circaea intermedia

The apical dominance in dormant tubers ofCircaea intermedia preventing the extension of lateral buds under favourable conditions differs from the apically directed growth inhibition inducing true dormancy in the tubers. This acropetal inhibition affects the tuber tip more strongly than its lateral buds, which develop into long stolon-like shoots after the tuber decapitation. The local supply of ABA shows no tuberizing effect, but enhances the dormancy of the tuber top. MH interrupts the correlation between the tuber laterals tuberizing without previous stolon formation. The uppermost leaf structures participate in the apical dominance, inhibiting their own axillaries on intact tubers. Mature scales disclose this correlative influence only on decapitated or dissected tubers on which IAA or BA release their inhibitory effect, but ABA increases it. Two scale pairs occurring regularly at the top of dormant tubers and seen later at the erect base of the stem are involved in the initiation of foliage leaves for the next-year growth period. BA applied to an axil at the top of the tuber provokes its sylleptic branching.     

Effects of common scab (Streptomyces scabies) on potatoes

Seed tubers with severe (71% cover) or slight (12% cover) common scab selected from a badly infected crop of cv. Maris Piper were boxed for sprouting in November and February and planted in field experiments at Woburn and Rothamsted in 1980. The severely scabbed seed lost more moisture than the slightly scabbed seed during sprouting and sprouted from a larger number of eyes but total stem numbers were greater on plants from the slightly scabbed seed. Plant growth during the first 6–9 wk after planting was less from the severely scabbed than from the slightly scabbed seed. This was shown by records of ground cover, leaf area index, fresh weights of stems and leaves, total tuber yield (18% lower at 9 wk) and tuber number. Subsequently these differences became non-significant. Seed with slight scab boxed in November produced smaller numbers of progeny tubers than that boxed in February but there were no other consistent effects of boxing date on growth and yield. Scab incidence on progeny tubers was very slight and unrelated to the severity of disease on the seed tubers. It seems unlikely that severe scab infection of seed tubers would significantly decrease tuber yields except perhaps in early potato production.