Late Blight Development Research Articles

Ion chromatography analysis of phosphite uptake and translocation by potato plants: Dose-dependent uptake and inhibition of Phytophthora infestans development

Phosphite-based fungicides are increasingly used to control fungi-like plant pathogens from the Oomycetes group. A rapid, precise, and cost-effective suppressed conductivity high performance ion chromatography (HPIC) method was developed to assess the concentrations of soluble phosphites (Phi) and phosphates (Pi) in plant samples. This technique was used to determine the amount of Phi and Pi in leaves and tubers of potato plants following foliar applications of the Phi-based fungicide Confine™. High amounts of Phi were determined in both leaves and tubers indicating that potato plants efficiently uptake and translocate the fungicide. The number of applications of Confine™ and its concentration were found to be directly proportional with the amount of Phi detected in potato plants and inversely proportional with the development of Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary in these plants. Levels of Phi comparable to those determined in plants were found to strongly inhibit the growth of P. infestans in vitro. The simultaneous estimation of the in planta Phi concentration and of the sensitivity of P. infestans to Phi represent the most comprehensive approach of assessing the efficacy of Phi-based fungicides in controlling late blight development in potatoes.

감자 역병의 친환경 방제를 위한 키토산 제형의 살포

감자역병은 감자재배에서 가장 중요한 병 중의 하나다. 감자역병의 친환경방제를 위하여 SH-1와 SH-2을 이용하여 감자역병균의 균사생장, 예방효과, 잎을 이용한 생물검정 및 포장시험을 통해 평가하였다. 실내에서 유묘를 이용한 시험에서 SH-1와 SH-2 제형을 살포 후 역병균을 접종 후 예방효과를 조사한 결과 95% 이상 발병을 억제하는 효과가 있었다. SH-1과 SH-2의 균사생장 억제 효과는 <TEX>$300{\mu}g/ml$</TEX>의 농도에서 균총의 크기를 74% 이상을 억제하였다. 잎을 이용한 생물검정에서 1% SH-1와 SH-2을 살포 후 1시간 뒤에 병원균을 접종한 결과 병의 발달을 줄였다. 감자 줄기에 총 폴리페놀 함량도 SH-1와 SH-2을 살포한 구에서 증가하였다. 포장에서 역병방제효과 시험에서 1% SH-1와 SH-2을 7일 간격 4회 살포한 처리구에서 각각 72%와 53%의 역병 방제 효과가 있었으며, 14일간 3회 살포한 구에도 유사한 병 방제효과를 보였다. 감자비대기에 1% SH-1와 SH-2 살포는 감자 생체 중을 증가시켰으며, 상품의 비율도 높았다. 이 결과에 의하면 SH-1와 SH-2의 살포는 친환경 유기농업에서 천연살균제로서 역병 방제에 사용 할 수 있으며, 감자 수확량도 증가시킬 수 있다. Potato late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans Cooke is one of the major diseases in the cultivation of potatoes in Korea. Effect of chitosan preparations (SH-1 and SH-2) was evaluated on the inhibition of mycelial growth of P. infestans, and protective activity using detached potato leaf assay both in vivo and in the field test. SH-1 and SH-2 were showed protective activity of young plant with control values more than 95% potato late blight by inoculation with pathogens under growth chamber conditions. Mycelial growth was inhibited the radial growth over 74% at a concentration of <TEX>$300{\mu}g/ml$</TEX> of both SH-1 and SH-2. Spraying with SH-1 and SH-2 on the leaves for detached leaf assay reduced disease development. The content of total polyphenol in stem was significantly increased by SH-1 and SH-2 application in the field. In field experiments, foliar application with both SH-1 and SH-2 were significantly reduced the development of late blight on potato plants. Control of late blight disease was obtained with control values of 72% and 53% by application of 1% SH-1 and SH-2, respectively, with 4 times at 7 days interval, and reduced with similar disease control values by application with 3 times at 14 days interval compared with untreated control. SH-1 and SH-2 applications increased the fresh weight of potato, and higher grade potatoes were also increased. The results showed that SH-1 and SH-2 applications can be used as eco-friendly natural fungicide for organic farming for the increase of yields and control of late blight.

Effectiveness of SIMBLIGHT1 and SIMPHYT1 models for predicting Phytophthora infestans in north-eastern United States

Accurate prediction of Phytophthora infestans outbreak in a cropping season is crucial for the effective management of late blight on potato. The SIMBLIGHT1, SIMPHYT1 and modified SIMPHYT1 models were assessed for predicting late blight outbreaks relative to NOBLIGHT model by using climatic and crop data from field experiments at Presque Isle, ME, from 2004 to 2009. The dynamics of late blight infection pressures were computed by SIMPHYT3 model to assess the conduciveness of environmental conditions for late blight infection and potential for disease development. Infection pressure indicated conditions were moderately conducive for late blight development but varied across years. The SIMPHYT1 model recommended fungicide applications to commence on 11 July, 21 July, 8 July, 10 July, 7 July and 7 July for 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009, respectively. The modified SIMPHYT1 model (US-version) recommended similar fungicide application dates for the same years with the exception of 2007. Model simulations of disease outbreak differed from actual recorded observations in untreated plots by 24–65 days. Simulation of SIMBLIGHT1 based on high and low soil moisture conditions in the field resulted in vast differences in dates of first fungicide application. Validation of the models (differences in the number of days between recommendation of fungicide treatment and late blight outbreak) indicated a better goodness of fit for the models (intervals of 6–20 days from the start of fungicide application to first disease outbreak). The NOBLIGHT model was accurate in forecasting the timing of first fungicide applications for late blight control. Significant improvements in late blight predictions could result if these models were modified to account for external sources of inoculum, by combining weather-based forecasts with spore traps, disease detection methods or complimentary systems.

A trial of late blight threat assessment to tomato in Poland on the basis of computer simulationsPróba oceny ryzyka wystąpienia zarazy ziemniaka na pomidorze w Polsce na podstawie wyników symulacji komputerowych

Summary Meteorological conditions play a significant role in infection of plants by pathogens. Phytophthora infestans belongs to those ones which development is strongly related to the weather course. The aim of the study was to determine the variation both in the space and time of threat to tomato by P. infestans in Poland. The aim was reached with the help of a model which estimates infection potential index on the basis of meteorological conditions. Meteorological data registered in 16 locations in 2007–2010 were used as input data for the computer simulations. The results of the study showed that weather conditions more favored tomato infection by P. infestans in 2009 and 2010 than in 2007 and 2008. Moreover, the differences in value of analyzed features were higher in time than in space. The best conditions for tomato infection by P. infestans appeared to occur in the neighbourhood of Nowy Sącz. Yet, in Zielona Gora the weather conditions favored late blight development the least.

올리고키토산에 의한 토마토 역병과 감자 역병의 방제

키토산은 D-glucosamine과 N-acetyl-D-glucosamine이 <TEX>${\beta}$</TEX>-(1-4)로 연결된 직선상의 다당류이다. 분자량이 3,000 amu 이상인 키토산에 대한 in vivo 항균활성 및 저항성 유도 활성에 대한 보고는 많지만, 분자량이 3,000 이하인 올리고키토산에 대한 in vivo 항균활성에 대한 논문은 거의 전무한 상태이다. 본 연구에서 올리고키토산은 P. infestans에 의해 발생하는 토마토 역병에 대하여 500 <TEX>${\mu}g$</TEX>/ml과 1,000 <TEX>${\mu}g$</TEX>/ml 수준에서 94% 이상의 매우 높은 접종 1일전 예방효과를 보였으며, 고추 탄저병과 밀 붉은녹병에 대해서는 500 <TEX>${\mu}g$</TEX>/ml과 1,000 <TEX>${\mu}g$</TEX>/ml 수준에서 67% 내지 89%의 중간 정도의 에방효과를 항온항습실 조건에서 보였다. 다른 한편으로 올리고키토산은 고추 탄저병에 대하여 접종 16시간 후 치료효과를 보였지만, 토마토 역병에 대해서는 치료효과를 전혀 보이지 않았다. 포장에서 올리고키토산 액제는 감자 역병과 토마토 역병에 대하여 각각 72%와 48%의 방제효과를 보였다. 이상의 결과는 올리고키토산이 감자 및 토마토 역병 방제를 위한 친환경 유기농자재로서 사용이 가능하다는 것을 강력하게 나타낸다. Chitosan is a linear polysaccharide composed of randomly distributed <TEX>${\ss}$</TEX>-(1-4)-linked D-glucosamine and Nacetyl-D-glucosamine. There have been many reports on the induced systemic resistance and in vivo antifungal activities of higher molecular weight chitosans with molecular weights over 3,000 amu (atomatic mass unit), but there are few papers on in vivo antifungal activities of low molecular weight chitosans (oligochitosans) with molecular weights less than 3,000 amu. In our study, an oligochitosan sample (320.3,000 amu) showed a potent 1-day protective activity with control values more than 94% at concentrations of 500 and 1,000 <TEX>${\mu}g$</TEX>/ml especially against tomato late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans under growth chamber conditions. It also displayed a moderate 1-day protective activity with control values of 67.89% at concentrations of 500 and 1,000 <TEX>${\mu}g$</TEX>/ml against wheat leaf rust and red pepper anthracnose. On the other hand, it showed a 16-hr curative activity against red pepper anthracnose, but not against tomato late blight and wheat leaf rust. In field experiments, oligochitosan effectively suppressed the development of late blight on potato and tomato plants with control values of 72% and 48%, respectively. The results strongly indicate that oligochitosan can be used as an eco-friendly organic material for the control of late blight on tomato and potato plants.

Effectiveness of fungicide-free approaches to the protection of potato and tomato against late blight

The article describes fungicide-free ecologically tolerant technologies for the protection of potato and tomato against Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary, agent of late blight of these crops. It has been proved that potato cultivars with field resistance (Lugovskoy) provide a protection level comparable to the effectiveness of modern fungicides. Plant extracts from Southern plants can be used as biopesticides in order to additionally suppress the development of late blight. For example, extracts of four species from Yemen (fam. Asteraceae: Psiadia arabica Jaup and Spach; fam. Lamiaceae: Lawsonia inermis L ; Dodonea viscos L ; Euryops arabicus Steud. ex Jaub and Spach) were capable of suppressing late blight development on potato. On the contrary, plant growth regulators, Novosil (active compound triterpene acids), Larixin (active compound dihydroquerticin), and Terpenol (active compound triterpene acids), in spite of the periods of high efficiency against late blight, do not provide satisfying effect since these substances could sometimes even promote a pathogen development. Also, vaccination of tomato with attenuated strain of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) could improve viability and immune status of plants under normal conditions, and in the case of stress situation it promoted weakness of plants and P. infestans infection. In Eastern Europe, fungicide-free technologies for the protection of potato and tomato against late blight, corresponding to the ecological criterion, should be additionally elaborated and tested for potato and tomato cropping.

Comparative assessment of pest management practices in potato production at Farmer Field Schools

Farmer field schools (FFS) and other participatory approaches are useful methods for rapid delivery of agricultural technologies, knowledge, and information in resource-constrained agro-ecosystems. Cultivar selection, weekly fungicide applications and integrated disease management (IDM) based on a disease monitoring strategy were evaluated at FFS for late blight control. Farmers’ knowledge and perceptions of pest management and agronomic practices were also assessed for both FFS participants and non-participants from 1999–2002. Late blight development and tuber yield varied among field schools, but cultivars had significant effects on late blight severity and yield over a range of disease management options relative to the untreated check. FFS participants and non-participants used diverse sources of pest management information, but differed significantly (P < 0.05) in their use of management methods and practices. Cultivar resistance and fungicides were ranked as major components of pest control by 18%–85% and 7%–30% of FFS participants and non-participants, respectively. Differences in knowledge of cropping practices and pest biology, causal agents, disease symptoms, factors favoring disease development and cultural management of insects and storage pests were recorded. Participatory field experiments, access to resistant cultivars, disease management and use of various agronomic practices learnt at FFS can greatly improve pest control and potato production.

Effect of Different Genotypes of Phytophthora infestans (Mont. de Bary) and Temperature on Tuber Disease Development

The interactions of different cultivars/Advance Breeding Lines (ABL) of potato with different genotypes of the potato late blight pathogen (Phytophthora infestans) at three storage temperatures on tuber late blight development were evaluated. The contribution of the medullar storage tissues was assessed rather than the periderm and outer cortical cell tissue. Tuber late blight severity measured as tuber darkening [mean Relative Average Reflectance Intensity [RARI (%)] generally increased with temperature. There was little difference in tuber late blight development between 7°C and 10°C treatments and in some combinations significantly more tissue darkening developed at 7 than at 10°C but little or no development occurred at 3°C. Resistance in tubers was observed only in Torridon and Stirling and to some extent Jacqueline Lee, but the cultivar Missaukee had weak tuber resistance. The US-8 genotype isolates were the most aggressive in tubers in most years causing rapid and significantly more tuber damage than any other genotype of P. infestans and similar to the US-6, US-10 and US-14 isolates used in 2006.

Restriction of potato and tomato late blight development by sub‐phytotoxic concentrations of boron

Boron is a microelement required for normal growth and development of plants but its positive effect is restricted to a narrow range of concentrations. The gradual increase in use of recycled water, which contains high concentrations of boron for irrigation, has already raised the level of boron in soils and plants in southern Israel. This research was conducted to examine the direct effects of sub‐phytotoxic boron concentrations on potato late blight epidemics and to explore the mode of action of boron against Phytophthora infestans. When boron was applied alone to field grown potato plants it did not affect the epidemic. However, together with a reduced rate of the fungicide Melody Duo (propineb + iprovalicarb), boron improved late blight suppression compared to plants treated with the fungicide alone. The ED50 of boron against P. infestans (256·4 mg L−1) was about 6400 times higher than the ED50 value of the fungicide chlorothalonil (0·04 mg L−1), indicating that boron does not have a direct fungicidal activity that would explain the level of protection seen in the field. In greenhouse experiments conducted with potted tomato plants, boron decreased late blight severity in both treated leaves and distant leaves not treated with boron. The results suggest that boron is active locally but also may induce systemic acquired resistance against P. infestans.

Erratum to: Induced resistance in potato to Phytophthora infestans—effects of BABA in greenhouse and field tests with different potato varieties

We have investigated to what degree induced resistance with β-aminobutyric acid (BABA) can protect potato from late blight infection under Swedish field conditions and if synergistic interactions occur if BABA is applied in combination with a commonly used fungicide, Shirlan. In greenhouse experiments we also investigated the durability of BABA induced resistance, the dose-response relationships in susceptible (Bintje) and partially resistant (Ovatio, Suberb) cultivars and effects of combined applications of BABA and fungicides. We found a clear effect of BABA on P. infestans infection of greenhouse grown potato plants. The lesion sizes were reduced by on average 40–50% compared to untreated control. However, this effect lasted for only 4–5 days after BABA treatment and then the efficacy was lower. When BABA was given in combination with the fungicides it appeared to have an additive effect both in greenhouse and field experiments. Higher concentrations of BABA gave a stronger protective effect. The partially resistant cultivars Ovatio and Superb reacted to lower concentrations of BABA where no effect was found in susceptible Bintje. According to our field data, 20–25% reduction of the fungicide dose in combination with BABA gave on average the same result on late blight development as full dose Shirlan alone; while reduced dose of Shirlan alone sometimes resulted in less effective protection. Our results indicate that induced resistance could be used in practice in combinations with fungicides in order to reduce the amount of toxic compounds under north European conditions.

Infection Potential of Hairy Nightshade (Solanum sarrachoides) by Phytophthora infestans and Late Blight Implications of the Alternate Host

AbstractInfection of hairy nightshade (Solanum sarrachoides Sendt.) by Phytophthora infestans has been reported. However, the epidemiological significance of hairy nightshade to potato late blight is not well known. Disease development and infection rates of P. infestans were quantified on hairy nightshade relative to tomato (cv. Brandywine) and potato (cv. Shepody) hosts to evaluate infection potential at 14, 18, 22 and 26°C and 72, 82, 87, and 92% relative humidity (RH). The susceptibility of hairy nightshade to inoculum levels, weed ontogeny, and sporangia production potential were also investigated. Late blight development varied among hairy nightshade, tomato and potato hosts. Pathogen infection rates ranged from 0.0325 to 0.4674 gompits/day (unit for quantifying infection rates), and were significantly (P &lt; 0.05) greater on potato and tomato than on hairy nightshade. Late blight severity was variably affected by RH. Disease levels on hairy nightshade varied with inoculum load; and ranged from 9 to 26% and 26 to 37% at low (5 × 103) and high (25 × 103) sporangia concentrations, respectively. Late blight was recorded irrespective of hairy nightshade ontogeny, and was significantly greater on 8–10 than 4–6‐week‐old plants. These results indicate that pathogen, environmental and host factors affect late blight development on hairy nightshade.

Antifungal Activity of the Methanol Extract of Myristica malabarica Fruit Rinds and the Active Ingredients Malabaricones Against Phytopathogenic Fungi

In a search for plant extracts with in vivo antifungal activity for plant diseases, we found that the methanol extract of Myristica malabarica fruit rinds effectively suppressed the development of several plant diseases. The methanol extract exhibited potent 1-day protective activity against rice blast, tomato late blight, wheat leaf rust and red pepper anthracnose. It also showed 7-day and 4-day protective activities against the plant diseases. Three antifungal resorcinols were isolated from the methanol extract of M. malabarica fruit rinds and identified as malabaricones A(MA), B(MB), and C(MC). Inhibitory activity of the three resorcinols against mycelial growth of plant pathogenic fungi varied according to compound and target species. All three compounds effectively reduced the development of rice blast, wheat leaf rust and red pepper anthracnose. In addition, MC was highly active for reducing the development of tomato late blight. This is the first report on the antifungal activities of malabaricones against filamentous fungi.

Effects of Mulch and Potato Hilling on Development of Foliar Blight (Phytophthora infestans) and the Control of Tuber Blight Infection

Foliar and tuber blight caused by Phytophthora infestans accounts for significant losses in potatoes in field and storage. Nevertheless, limited research has been published on the effects of cultural practices on late blight control. Field experiments were conducted in two years on Howard gravely loam soil in New York State to evaluate the effectiveness of mulching using oat straw and hilling in preventing tuber blight infection for cvs Allegany and Katahdin. Potato hilling and mulching had little effect on foliar blight development. The cultivar affected the disease development in the foliage, with cv. Allegany showing lower foliar late blight than cv. Katahdin. Tuber blight incidence averaged 25% for cv. Allegany and 3% for cv. Katahdin in hilled plots, while in the mulched plots the incidence of tuber blight averaged 33% for cv. Allegany and 10% for cv. Katahdin. The straw hay mulch was ineffective in tuber blight control. Tubers set at a soil depth of more than 7 cm had lower tuber blight incidence than shallow tubers set at a depth of less than 7 cm. In both years, hilling provided partial protection of tubers but its effectiveness was limited in the presence of favourable conditions for late blight development. Even though large hills had proportionally a lower tuber blight incidence than medium-sized hills, the difference between the different hill sizes was not significant. These studies suggest that the use of cultivars with foliage resistance to late blight in combination with cultural practices may partially reduce the incidence of tuber blight.

Bikaverin and fusaric acid from Fusarium oxysporum show antioomycete activity against Phytophthora infestans

To isolate and identify antioomycete substances from Fusarium oxysporum EF119 against Phytophthora infestans and to investigate their antimicrobial activities against various plant pathogenic bacteria, oomycetes and true fungi. Two antioomycete substances were isolated from liquid cultures of F. oxysporum EF119, which shows a potent disease control efficacy against tomato late blight caused by P. infestans. They were identified as bikaverin and fusaric acid by mass and nuclear magnetic resonance spectral analyses. They inhibited the mycelial growth of plant pathogenic oomycetes and fungi. Fusaric acid also effectively suppressed the cell growth of various plant pathogenic bacteria, but bikaverin was virtually inactive. Treatment with bikaverin at 300 microg ml(-1) suppressed the development of tomato late blight by 71%. Fusaric acid provided effective control against tomato late blight and wheat leaf rust over 67% at concentrations more than 100 microg ml(-1). Both bikaverin and fusaric acid showed in vitro and in vivo antioomycete activity against P. infestans. Fusarium oxysporum EF119 producing both bikaverin and fusaric acid may be used as a biocontrol agent against tomato late blight caused by P. infestans.

Isolation and antifungal activity of lignans from Myristica fragrans against various plant pathogenic fungi

In a search for plant extracts with potent in vivo antifungal activity against various plant diseases, we found that treatment with a methanol extract of Myristica fragrans Houttyn (nutmeg) seeds reduced the development of various plant diseases. The objectives of the present study were to isolate and determine antifungal substances from My. fragrans and to evaluate their antifungal activities. Three antifungal lignans were isolated from the methanol extract of My. fragrans seeds and identified as erythro-austrobailignan-6 (EA6), meso-dihydroguaiaretic acid (MDA) and nectandrin-B (NB). In vitro antimicrobial activity of the three lignans varied according to compound and target species. Alternaria alternata, Colletotrichum coccodes, C. gloeosporioides, Magnaporthe grisea, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Acidovorax konjaci and Burkholderia glumae were relatively sensitive to the three lignans. In vivo, all three compounds effectively suppressed the development of rice blast and wheat leaf rust. In addition, EA6 and NB were highly active against the development of barley powdery mildew and tomato late blight, respectively. Both MDA and NB also moderately inhibited the development of rice sheath blight. This is the first study to demonstrate the in vitro and in vivo antifungal activities of the three lignans from My. fragrans against plant pathogenic fungi.

Microclimate and potential for late blight development in irrigated potato

Application of irrigation water can improve potato growth and tuber yield during periods of deficit rainfall. A variety of water application techniques exist; however, little is known of their relative impacts on potato late blight potential. The effects of sprinkler, sub-surface drip, and surface drip irrigation treatments on microclimate and potential for late blight development were evaluated on Russet Burbank potato over three growing seasons in central Maine. Leaf wetness, air temperature, relative humidity (RH), rainfall and soil temperature were recorded each year. The potential for late blight was assessed with a late blight simulation model. Leaf wetness and RH peaked during night hours, while canopy and soil temperatures were lowest during the same hours. Comparison of observed and simulated blight development revealed a good prediction of potato late blight by the simulation model. The onset of simulated blight severity and final predicted disease level differed among years. Slight differences in simulated disease levels were sometimes observed between irrigated and non-irrigated treatments; however, irrigation application method did not consistently impact microclimatic parameters associated with late blight development. These results indicate that microclimate conducive to late blight development was less impacted by irrigation treatments than by local macroclimatic conditions.

Impact of Agronomic Strategies (Seed Tuber Pre-sprouting, Cultivar Choice) to Control Late Blight (Phytophthora infestans) on Tuber Growth and Yield in Organic Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Crops

In order to optimize potato crop management in organic farming systems, knowledge of crop growth processes in relation to limitations and reductions by nitrogen (N) and disease is necessary. This paper examines the effect of different prevention measures (seed tuber pre-sprouting, choice of cultivars: resistance to Phytophthora infestans; earliness of tuber initiation) against disease-related constraints on yields, depending on the N-mediated growing conditions of organic potato crops. Under conditions of a relatively high N supply, accelerating the early development and tuber initiation of potato crops by seed tuber pre-sprouting (yield increase of c. 18–23%) or the selective choice of cultivars with an earlier tuber initiation (yield increase of c. 0–21%) are the most effective strategies in combating late blight. They bring forward the crop development c. 7–10 days, escaping the negative impact of the fungus on tuber growth. Under conditions of a relatively low N supply, these strategies do not affect final tuber yield. The reason for the differences of the effect depending on N supply of the crops is, that the lower the N supply, the shorter the period of time over which tuber growth takes place, independent of whether P. infestans becomes severe or not. Tuber growth of organic crops low in N has mostly ceased by the time late blight becomes potentially important for limiting yield, with the consequence that preventative measures against P. infestans are meaningless. Surprisingly, the level of cultivar haulm resistance to late blight did not affect tuber yields in years with an early and strong late blight development. Probably, the positive effect of a longer resistance to the fungus (c. 1 week) was counterbalanced by a later tuber initiation (also c. 1 week). In years with a moderate late blight incidence, less susceptible cultivars were able to produce higher tuber yields on fields with a lower N availability (c. 17–20%), probably due to higher N use efficiency and a better match of N mineralization and N uptake. Under conditions of a relatively high N supply, the tested cultivars with a higher haulm resistance to late blight were not able to improve tuber yields.

Characterization of the resistance to Phytophthora infestans in local potato cultivars in Bolivia

This experiment was carried out to investigate whether and how much field resistance to late blight, caused by Phytophthora infestans, is present in the local cultivated potato germplasm. In total 36 entries were compared in a field experiment in an area highly conducive to late blight development. Of the 36 cultivars 32 were local cultivars belonging to five Solanum species, S. tuberosum (1 accession), S. andigena (18), S. juzepczukii (2), S. stenotomum (9) and S. ajanhuiri (2). The other four cultivars were derived from breeding programmes, one being the Dutch cultivar Alpha used as a highly susceptible control. The 36 cultivars were planted according to a simple 6 × 6 lattice design with three replicates. Each replicate was divided in six incomplete blocks each with six cultivars. The disease severity was assessed weekly during 9 weeks starting 48 days after planting. The area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) was used as a measure of the field resistance. Nine isolates from surrounding potato fields were tested for their virulence to the resistance genes R1–R11 using 22 differential cultivars. The components of the field resistance of 19 of these cultivars were compared in the greenhouse using a local isolate with virulence to all known R-genes, except to R9. The nine isolates represented seven races with a race complexity varying from 7 to 10 virulence factors. All isolates carried virulence against R1, R2, R3, R7, R10 and R11, while virulence against R9 was absent. The AUDPC among the 32 local cultivars ranged from very large, significantly larger than that of ‘Alpha’ to very small. The AUDPC from S. stenotomum accessions ranged from very large to intermediate, those from S. andigena accessions from large to very small. Especially among the S. andigena accessions interesting levels of field resistance were found. Four components of field resistance were assessed, latency period (LP), lesion size (LS), lesion growth rate (LGR) and relative sporulation area (RSA). All four showed a considerable variation among the cultivars. The LP ranged from 3½ to 6 days. The LS ranged from 225 mm2 to 20 mm2. The LGR varied about six-fold, the RSA more than 10-fold. The components tended to vary in association with one another. LP and LGR were well associated with each other and had a significant correlation with the AUDPC.

Post-harvest applications of zoxamide and phosphite for control of potato tuber rots caused by oomycetes at harvest

Potato storage tuber rots caused by the late blight and pink rot pathogens at harvest can cause severe economic losses, warranting the need for effective post-harvest fungicide applications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of select post-harvest fungicides in reducing tuber infections by the late blight and pink rot pathogens when applied at various post-inoculation time intervals. ‘Russet Burbank’ potatoes were inoculated by submersion in an aqueous suspension ofPhytophthora infestans orPhytophthora erythroseptica zoospores at 0, 1, 2, 4, and 6 h prior to receiving a post-harvest treatment. Products evaluated were zoxamide (various rates and formulation), phosphite (335 g a.i./MT), and a hydrogen peroxide/peroxyacetic acid mixture (HPPA, 9 g a.i./MT), all applied at 2.08 L/MT of tubers as a low pressure spray prior to storage. Zoxamide and phosphite significantly reduced late blight and pink rot incidence and severity when applied immediately after inoculation. HPPA was less effective at controlling disease development. Phosphite was effective at reducing late blight development at all time intervals up to 6 h post-inoculation (7% vs 80% in untreated). Zoxamide appeared to have good post-harvest disease control if applied soon after inoculation. The maximum time intervals between inoculation and treatment where significant reductions in pink rot incidence were observed was 0 h for HPPA (28%), 2 h for zoxamide (55%; 64 g a.i./MT) and 6 h for phosphite (13%) compared to the untreated (73%). Phosphite provided consistent disease control even when applied several h after inoculation and has potential to be a reliable post-harvest fungicide for the potato industry.

Dynamics of development of late blight [Phytophthora infestans] in potato, and comparative resistance of cultivars in the highland tropics

Host resistance is an important component for the management of late blight [Phytophthora infestans] on potato, in the highland tropics, where effective fungicide use is limited because of the cost of application. Potato cultivars with major resistance genes to late blight (population A) and minor or quantitative resistance genes to the disease (population B) were evaluated in field studies at two locations in Kenya during 2000, 2001, and 2002 cropping seasons. Disease severity, area under disease progress curve (AUDPC), infection rates, tuber blight, and tuber yields were assessed to determine the effectiveness of cultivar resistance to potato late blight. Significant differences (P < 0.05) in AUDPC were detected among cultivars. Progress of late blight on potato cultivars was best described by the nonlinear form of the logistic model. Infection rates ranged from 0.0047 to 0.3105 logits per day and were generally higher on susceptible than resistant cultivars. Rates of disease progress were highest on the susceptible control 'Kerr's Pink' (0.3015 logits per day) and lowest on ‘Rutuku’ (0.0047 logits per day), a cultivar derived from population A. The rates of disease progress on population B cultivars were significantly (P < 0.001) higher than those on population A in seasons of severe late-blight epidemics. Significant (P < 0.05) differences in tuber blight development were also detected among the cultivars. Significant negative correlations were observed between AUDPC and tuber yield for cultivars of population A, but no correlations were observed for cultivars of population B. This suggests that cultivars of population B are less influenced in their yield by late blight than those of population A and may be more suited for use where late blight is a recurring problem.