Fungal diseases affecting potato storage

Description

Fungal and oomycete pathogens responsible for causing potato storage diseases are both numerous and ubiquitous wherever potatoes are grown. These diseases can result in losses of 5–10% during storage, with additional losses caused in the field in subsequent growing seasons for affected seed crops. Previous research has tended to focus on individual diseases and their management, but there is a growing need to understand the bigger picture. This chapter considers the issue in three stages: identifying the causal pathogens, understanding the epidemiology of the diseases and managing disease in the field and during storage. A detailed case study of Fusarium dry rot is presented to illustrate how improved understanding of diseases can be used to ensure more effective management.

Table of contents

1 Introduction 2 Identifying and quantifying the pathogen 3 Understanding the epidemiology of potato storage diseases 4 Integration of knowledge to inform management decisions 5 Case study: Fusarium dry rot 6 Where to look for further information 7 References