Evaluation of Electromagnetic Resonance Designed Pulses for Controlling Potato Brown Rot Caused by Ralstonia solanacearum

Abstract

One of the main problems facing potato production is brown rot. Potato brown rot is a systemic bacterial wilt disease caused by Aggressively colonize the xylem vessels causing a lethal wilting. Control of potato brown rot has proven to be a serious, very difficult and puzzling task. As a result it became one of the major obstacles in the total value of Egyptian potato exports . As potato brown rot was declared a quarantine disease of concern in the European Union. This work aimed to asses the efficiency of very low waves to detect infestation of land and potatoes' tuber by brown potato rot as well as control that aggressive bacterium. Rs-FAST device had been manufactured as specific detector of potato brown rot bacterium in both land and tubers. Results confirmed the efficiency of Rs-FAST device for that purpose. Results showed that, treating potato field by electromagnetic resonance pulses for one hour achieved 100% mortality of bacterium, Ralstonia solanacearum in soil and tubers. There was an insignificant difference between treating potato fields for one and two hours. Chemical analysis of certain potato leaves contents showed that, significant increase of total protein, total carbohydrates, nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus of treating leaves. Chemical analysis of potato tubers confirmed the results of leaves. It means that, treating potato fields by very low pulses of electromagnetic resonance improved the nutritional values of potato tubers as well as increased the crop yield by about 15% of control.