Decreased severity of potato common scab after foliar sprays of 3,5 -dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, a possible antipathogenic agent

Glasshouse tests on the potato cultivars Majestic and Maris Bard measured the effects of single early foliar sprays of ring-substituted phenoxyacetic acids (0.9 × 10–³ M) on the incidence of potato common scab, caused by soil-borne Streptomyces scabies. The most effective compound was 3,5-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (3,5-D), which decreased scab by about 90%; its action was preventative, early sprays being more effective than late However, it slightly decreased yield, and increased the number of tubers per plant and the proportion of deformed tubers. The trichloro- and tetrachloro- acids containing the 3,5-dichloro- group also decreased scab, though to lesser extents; the most active of these was the 2,3,4,5-tetrachloro- acid, which had the same side effects as 3,5-D. The herbicide 2,4-D almost halved scab incidence, but seriously decreased yield. Other acids tested had little or no effect on scab. In tests against S. scabies in culture, 3,5-D was no more toxic than other disubstituted acids which were inactive, or weakly active, against the disease in vivo. 3,5-D may be an ‘antipathogenic agent’, preventing scab development by altering tuber metabolism.