Potato Protection Research Articles

Integrated pest‐management approaches in orchard, cereal and potato protection in Poland1

With its total area of 312,683 km2 and a population of about 39 million people, the area of agricultural land per person in Poland is about 0.47 ha. The yields of basic crops are rather low and the losses due to pathogens, animal pests and weeds are high. The use of pesticides is about 1.0–1.3 kg a.i. per ha and this gives a good starting point for integrated pest management (IPM) in the production system of various crops. IPM in glasshouse crops reached the level of 500 ha per year. An IPM approach against codling moth (Cydia pomonella) in orchards allowed a reduction by 70% in the number of insecticide treatments. In the case of apple scab (Venturia haequalis), the IPM approach allowed a reduction in the number of fungicide treatments by 30% on an area of 100,000 ha. In respect to small grains, the IPM approach concerns rational use of fungicides and herbicides in winter wheat and barley. In potato protection, the IPM approach mainly concerns Colorado beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata), which at present is controlled by chemical insecticides on 77% of the potato area. Special research and demonstration IPM programmes sponsored by USDA/AID in Central and Eastern Europe will be operational during 1992/1995 and will concern orchards (apple, pear), small grains (wheat, barley) and potatoes.

Integrated crop management, the basis for environment friendly crop protection of potatoes

Relatively large amounts of pesticides are needed to control diseases and pests in modern, intensive potato production. Integrated crop management offers a way of reducing the need for pesticides. It aims to reduce costs and improve the quality of the product and of the production methods, while maintaining soil fertility and the quality of the environment. The components of integrated crop management are described. Prevention of diseases and pests has high priority. If diseases or pests are present, non-chemical control methods are preferred and chemical control is based on economic criteria and the monitoring of the soil and crops. The contribution of integrated crop management to the control of two important fungal diseases, late blight (Phytophthora infestans), and stem canker (Rhizoctonia solani) and of one pest, potato cyst nematode (Globodera spp..) is described. The prospects for further development of integrated crop protection are discussed.

Protection of potato from Rhizoctonia canker with binucleate Rhizoctonia fungi

Fifteen isolates of binucleate Rhizoctonia fungi (BNR) were studied as potential biocontrol agents for protection of potato from Rhizoctonia canker in artificially infested greenhouse soil and potato fields naturally infested with Rhizoctonia solani (AG‐3). Eight of the BNR reduced incidence and severity of Rhizoctonia stem canker in greenhouse experiments by an average of 78 and 85%, respectively. In a field naturally infested with R. solani, selected isolates of BNR and the fungicide Tops 2.5D (thiophanate‐methyl) were equally protective of potato from Rhizoctonia stem canker. BNR isolates gave protection of potato from Rhizoctonia stolon canker similar to PCNB and superior to Tops 2.5D. Cultivars Atlantic, Irish Cobbler, Kennebec, Norchip, Russet Burbank, and Superior were protected equally from Rhizoctonia stem canker by selected isolates of BNR under field conditions. Isolates of BNR show potential as biocontrol agents for protection of potato from Rhizoctonia canker.

Effect of growth media, storage environment, soil temperature and delivery to soil on binucleate Rhizoctonia AG-G for protection of potato from Rhizoctonia canker

Binucleate Rhizoctonia (BNR) isolates propagated for 20 days at 24°C on oat kernels and for 30 days on vermiculite amended with potato broth were recovered from an average of 62% of whole kernels, 100% of chopped kernels and 71 % of vermiculite particles within the cultures, respectively. Viability of BNR isolates 232-CG and JF-3S4-3 was higher when stored at 5 than at 24°C, and was slightly affected by the vacuum used to reduce the O2 level. After 17 weeks of storage at 5°C in air, BNR isolates 232-CG and JF-3S4-3 maintained similar viability (75% viability on whole oat kernels and 100% viability on chopped oat kernels), but in vermiculite amended with potato broth, viability of isolate 232-CG remained at 100% while that of JF-3S4-3 was 28%. In the glasshouse, BNR isolates 232-CG and JF-3S4-3 protected potato plants from Rhizoctonia canker caused by R. solani in soil maintained at 11, 17 and 23°C. Protection from Rhizoctonia canker was greater when BNR was delivered to soil than when placed on seed pieces. BNR-colonized-whole oat kernels placed in soil (15 g m of row) gave the greatest protection from Rhizoctonia canker in all experiments. In two field experiments in soil naturally infested with R. solani AG-3. the amount of BNR-colonized oat kernels was reduced from 15 g/m of row to 1-9 g m of row without affecting protection of potato plants from Rhizoctonia canker.

Progress in biological control of the Colorado beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) in Eastern Europe

Intensive studies conducted in Eastern Europe to introduce and acclimatize two predatory bugs, Perillus bioculatus and Podisus maculiventris, and one fly, Doryphorophaga doryphorae, have not given positive results so far. Seasonal colonization with predators has provided good protection of potato and aubergine crops but the method requires release of high numbers of insects. Two microbial insecticides are produced, registered and used in the USSR for controlling the Colorado beetle, namely Boverin (Beauveria bassiana) and Bitoksybacillin (Bacillus thuringiensis var. thuringiensis 202).

Protection of stored potatoes against tuber moth

Protection of stored potatoes against tuber moth

Wireworms: Efficacy of Various Insecticides for Protection of Potatoes in Southern Alberta1

Granular fonofos, and granular AC 92100 [ O, O -diethyl S-( t -butylthio) methyl phosphorodithioate], each at 2 lb AI acre in-furrow, gave excellent protection of potatoes against wireworms in irrigated soils of southern Alberta. Fonofos was particularly effective over 2 consecutive years and provided better control than registered chlordane or carbofuran in-furrow broadcast. Chlordane and carbofuran were not significantly better than the checks in several tests, and HCS-3260 (alpha gamma chlordane) was no more consistent in its protection of potatoes than was chlordane. Fensulfothion, ( O, O -diethyl O-p -[(methylsulfinyl)phenyl] phosphorothioate), applied in-furrow or broadcast, gave variable tuber protection but appeared to be slightly better than chlordane or carbofuran. Fonofos, AC 92100, fensulfothion, and PP211 [ O, O -diethyl O -(2-diethyl-amino-4-methyl-6-pyrimidinyl) phosphorothioate] were as effective against the sugarbeet wireworm, Limonius californicus (Mannerheim), as against the prairie grain wireworm, Ctenicera aeripennis destructor (Brown).