I D E N T I F Y I N G

P O T A T O
DISEASES
I N P E N N S Y L V A N I A

College of Agricultural Sciences

 Contents

3 Late Blight

5 Early Blight

6 Verticillium Wilt (Early Dying)

8 Rhizoctonia Canker (Black Scurf)

10 Fusarium Dry Rot and Seed Piece

Decay

11 Silver Scurf

12 Pythium Leak

13 Pink Rot

14 Black Dot

15 Powdery Scab

16 Gray Mold

17 Sclerotinia Stalk Rot (White Mold)

18 Common Scab

19 Blackleg and Soft Rot

21 Ring Rot

Viruses
Physiological Disorders

2
Late Blight

Symptoms During periods of high relative humidity

Causal Organism and leaf wetness, lesions may be
bordered or totally covered by a
Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) Foliage
cottonlike white moldy growth on the
De Bary (fungus) Symptoms of late blight appear as small
underside of the leaf or on the stems
light- to dark-green water-soaked spots,
Affects (Fig. 5). The white growth is the fungus
often with a chlorotic halo (Fig. 1).
sporulating, producing sporangia. Under
foliage and tubers Lesions enlarge rapidly and turn brown
continuously wet conditions, the fungus
or purplish black. The lesions are not
sporulates profusely and the disease
limited by veins, and they coalesce as
progresses rapidly as the fungus rots the
new infections occur, blighting and killing
leaves and stems. High temperature and
the entire leaf within a few days. If the
dry conditions will slow or temporarily
lesions dry out, the leaf becomes very
stop disease development, but as
brittle (Fig. 2). Lesions may occur on
conditions become moist and cool, the
petioles or stems, making detection
fungus resumes growth and disease
difficult because leaves still appear green
develop- ment continues. Sporulation on
and healthy (Fig. 3). Infected stems turn
stem lesions appears less affected by hot
black with rot but are not as spongy as
dry conditions because of the high
stems infected with blackleg or soft rot
relative humidity within the crop canopy.
bacteria (Fig. 4).

1. Late blight lesions with chlorotic halo. 2. Late blight lesion that has dried and
Late blight on stem.
become brittle.

4. Late blight on stem, leaves with 5. Late blight lesions with sporulation.
sporulation.
3
Tubers
The exteriors of infected tubers show Disease Cycle Management/Control
irregular and slightly depressed areas of
● Use high-quality disease-free seed.
brown to purplish skin (Fig. 6). A coppery
brown granular rot usually extends less The fungus survives between potato ● Use resistant cultivars where possible;
crops primarily in infected tubers (as Kennebec, Sebago, and Elba are
than one-half inch into the tuber. This rot
may be deeper when the infection is seed, culls, volunteers). When infected moderately resistant.
tubers sprout the following spring, the ● Destroy cull piles and volunteers.
caused by new genotypes of late blight
(Fig. 7). The boundary between diseased pathogen can grow from the tubers into ● Do not overfertilize with nitrogen.
and healthy tissue is not clearly defined. the newly formed plants. Under cool, ● Make sure plants are adequately hilled.
Tubers may appear shriveled as older moist conditions, the fungus can sporu- ● Apply fungicides.
lesions become firm and sunken due to late on the foliage of these plants. If the ● Scout suspect areas such as low-lying
water loss. Invasion by secondary decay spores become airborne, they can be areas, areas near woods, and areas that
organisms is common, resulting in the carried to neighboring plants or nearby tend to dry out more slowly.
complete breakdown of tubers. The fields. As long as spores continue to form ● Vine kill and continue to apply
cottonlike white mold may be observed on diseased foliage, infections will occur protectant fungicides until plants are
on the surface of tubers when they are throughout the growing season. completely dead.
stored under conditions of high moisture. ● Harvest only when vines are dead.
When spores are washed off the foliage ● Avoid harvesting under wet conditions.
by rainfall, tubers can become infected. ● Maintain good air circulation in storage.
Tubers also may become infected at
harvest through contact with spores on
infected vines. Tubers inadequately
covered by soil are more likely to be
infected than those that are properly
hilled. If the fungus sporulates on tubers
in storage, any movement of those tubers
can cause the sporangia to be dissemi-
nated and allow infections to occur on
other tubers.

Conditions That Promote

Disease
6. Late blight rot on tuber. Ideal conditions for late blight are cool
nights (50 to 60F) and warm days (60 to
70F) accompanied by fog, rain, or long
periods of leaf wetness. Conditions must
remain moist for 7 to 10 hours for spore
production to occur.

Disease Look-alikes

Foliage
early blight, botrytis

Stem
soft rot, blackleg

7. Late blight rot in tuber. Tubers

pink rot, early blight

4
Early Blight

Disease Cycle Disease Look-alikes

Causal Organism
Alternaria solani Sorauer (fungus) The fungus overwinters in soil, plant Foliage
debris, infected tubers, or other solana- late blight, botrytis
Affects ceous hosts. The disease usually occurs
foliage and tubers along fields adjacent to potato fields Tubers
from the previous season. Early blight late blight, fusarium rot
usually occurs late in the season, with
the first appearance in mid-July. Spores
Symptoms Management/Control
are produced on the older lesions and
are dispersed to other plants by wind, ● Rotate away from the previous
Foliage rain, irrigation water, or mechanical year’s potato fields.
Foliar symptoms first appear as small means throughout the later part of the ● Plant cultivars with some degree of
circular dark spots on lower, older leaves growing season. The disease therefore resistance, since early-maturing
(Fig. 8). Lesions are dark brown to black increases more rapidly after the plants cultivars are more susceptible than late-
and have concentric rings, resulting in a flower. Tuber infection occurs during maturing cultivars. Katahdin, Kennebec,
targetlike appearance within the dead harvesting and is most severe when the Sebago, Elba, and Atlantic are moder-
tissue. As lesions coalesce, they become tubers are bruised or wounded. ately resistant.
restricted by large leaf veins and take on ● Apply protectant fungicides beginning
an angular shape (Fig. 9). Lesions may be Conditions That Promote after bloom or at the first sight of early
surrounded by a chlorotic border. Infection Disease blight symptoms.
also may occur on stems, resulting in ● Use cultural practices that
small dark lesions that do not cause The temperature range for disease promote tuber skin set.
significant injury. development is 68 to 86F with an ● Use harvesting methods that
optimum range between 70 and 75F. minimize skinning and bruising.
Tubers Alternating wet and dry conditions with
Tuber lesions are dark, sunken, and often long periods of high relative humidity and
surrounded by a raised margin (Fig. 10). leaf wetness promote disease develop-
The underlying tissues are leathery to ment. The disease is more severe on
corky in texture, dry, and usually reddish potatoes that are stressed from poor
to dark brown. Infected tubers become nutrition, insect damage, drought, or
shriveled after prolonged storage. other stresses. Disease development
increases as senescence begins.

8. Early blight lesions on leaves. 9. Early blight lesions on leaves and stem. 10. Early blight rot in tubers.

5
Verticillium Wilt (Early

Symptoms Disease Cycle

Causal Organism
Verticillium dahliae Kleb and The fungus survives in the soil, on the
Verticillium albo-atrum Reinke Foliage seed piece, or in infected plant debris,
and Berth (fungi) Verticillium wilt causes early senescence and can persist in the soil for many years.
of plants (Fig. 11). Symptoms often are Because Verticillium has a wide host
Affects difficult to distinguish from normal range, it can survive at low levels on
foliage and tubers senescence, since they are expressed many symptomless crop and weed
typically during the later part of the species. Infection occurs through root
season. Foliar symptoms appear as hairs, wounds, or sprouts, and then
uneven chlorosis and wilting of lower continues into the vascular system (water-
leaves (Fig. 12). Either top leaves, single conducting tissues). As infected plants die,
stems, or leaves on one side of the stem the fungus grows through all of the
may begin to wilt first (Fig. 13); however, dying tissues and forms infective
the stem remains erect as the leaves wilt, propagules that are released into the soil.
turn yellow, and eventually die. A diagnos-
tic symptom is wilted leaflets on one side Potato early dying is a syndrome consist-
of a petiole. Tan discoloration of the ing of premature vine death and
vascular tissues usually can be seen declining yields in areas where potatoes
when the stem is cut in cross section or have been in production for several
in a longitudinal section near its base (Fig. years. Although Verticillium is the
14). primary pathogen, other organisms have
been associated with this syndrome.
Tubers Root-lesion nematodes most frequently
Some tubers from infected plants may coinfect with Verticillium. Other
develop a light brown discoloration in the pathogens have been reported to
vascular tissue at the stem end, which increase Verticillium wilt and have been
usually does not extend through the tuber implicated in the early dying syndrome.
(Fig. 15). Other disorders also can cause
this type of discoloration.

11. Verticillium wilt, advanced senescence. 12. Verticillium wilt with wilting on lower
leaves and uneven chlorosis.

6
 Conditions That Promote Disease Look-alikes Management/Control
Disease
● Do not plant susceptible cultivars.
Elevated temperature and moisture Foliage ● Rotate potatoes with cereals, grasses,
during the early part of the growing blackleg, black dot or legumes.
season, followed by drought, promote ● Avoid rotation with highly susceptible
Verticillium. Continuous potato cropping Tubers solanaceous crops such as eggplant or
and planting susceptible cultivars ring rot tomato.
(Kennebec and Superior) increase the ● Plant resistant cultivars such as Elba or
pathogen population. moderately resistant cultivars such as
Katahdin, Norchip, and Atlantic. Avoid
susceptible cultivars such as Kennebec
and Superior.
● Control weeds.
● Control nematode populations.
● Avoid overirrigation.
● Use green manure crops such as corn,
oats, peas, rape, rye, and sudangrass
to reduce the pathogen population.

13. Verticillium wilt with chlorosis of one side 14. Verticillium wilt with discoloration of 15. Verticillium wilt with discoloration of
of plant. vascular tissue. tuber vascular tissue.

7
 Rhizoctonia Canker (Black

Symptoms Tubers
Causal Organism The fungus forms sclerotia (survival
Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn (fungus) structures) on the tubers (Fig. 19). The
Stems and stolons sclerotia vary from netted or scurfy
Affects Characteristic symptoms of Rhizoctonia residues to individual black masses on
stems, stolons, and tubers are brownish black sunken lesions on the tuber surface. Tubers may be mis-
underground stems and stolons (Fig. 16). shapen, cracked, or may develop a
The disease may cause nonuniform russetlike skin (Fig. 20).
stands of weak, spindly-looking plants.
Early-season infections often result in
the pruning of young stolons where
lesions girdle them completely. Dark
stem lesions occurring below the soil line
may girdle the main stem, resulting in
yellow- ish or purplish leaves that curl
upwards. On relatively healthy-looking
plants, aerial tubers may form (Fig. 17).
During midseason, the fungus may
develop a white powdery mold growth
on the stems that extends just above the
soil line (Fig. 18). This often is associated
with stem lesions below the ground.

16. Rhizoctonia cankers girdling the stem. 17. Rhizoctonia aerial tubers. 18. Rhizoctonia mycelium growth on lower
stem.

8
 Disease Cycle Conditions That Promote Disease Look-alikes
Disease
Tubers
The fungus survives in soil with decom- Ideal conditions for Rhizoctonia are cool powdery scab, common scab
posing plant residue. Sclerotia can survive
(55 to 60F), moist soils. The pathogen
on infected tubers and persist in the soil
population increases with continuous Management/Control
for many years. Sclerotia germinate and
potato cropping.
invade stems or sprouts. Roots and
● Use disease-free seed.
stolons are invaded as they develop
● Use seed treatments of registered
throughout the growing season. Sclerotia
fungicides to reduce some infections,
can form on new tubers at any time, but
especially from an infected seed
maximum development occurs as tubers
piece.
remain in the soil after the death of the
● Warm the seed prior to planting.
vines.
● Plant in warm (60F) soil.
● Any practice that promotes rapid
emer- gence will reduce attack by
Rhizoctonia.
● Use proper crop rotation, preferably
grasses or cereals.

19. Rhizoctonia sclerotia on tubers. 20. Rhizoctonia cracks and russetlike skin.

9
Fusarium Dry Rot and Seed Piece

Symptoms Disease Cycle

Causal Organism
Fusarium spp. (fungus) The fungus can be seed- or soilborne. It
Externally, tubers may have sunken or enters tubers through wounds or bruises
wrinkled areas and an occasional white or incurred during harvesting or handling.
Affects
pink fungal growth. Internally, tubers The disease can spread quickly if pota-
tubers
develop a crumbly dry decay ranging from toes are improperly cured. Infected seed
dark brown (chocolate colored) to black tubers result in low-quality seed that
(Fig. 21). In addition, cavities often causes poor crop stands. The fungus can
develop in the rotted tissue that contains survive as resistant spores or mycelium in
the white or pink fungal growth. A moist decayed plant debris in the soil.
rot may occur if tubers are invaded by a
secondary infection with soft rot bacteria.
Conditions That Promote Disease

Conditions that promote dry rot in storage

include storage temperatures above 50F,
too much soil piled with the tubers,
bruising or wounding of tubers during
harvest or handling, and improper
suberization of tubers or seed pieces.

Disease Look-alikes

Tubers
early blight

Management/Control

21. Fusarium dry rot in tuber. ● Minimize bruising and wounding of

tubers during harvest and handling.
● Avoid harvesting when tuber pulp tem-
peratures are cold.
● Harvest when vines are dead.
● Remove excess dirt and clods from
tubers before storing.
● Promote proper wound healing.
(Temperatures from 55 to 60F with 90
to 95 percent relative humidity encour-
age wound healing.)
● Reduce the storage temperature
gradually when curing is
complete.
● Apply the fungicide thiabendazole to
harvested tubers going into storage.

1
 Silver

Symptoms
Disease Cycle
Causal Organism
Helminthosporium solani Dur. and The main source of inoculum is infected
Mont. (fungus) Symptoms of silver scurf include light
seed. The fungus sporulates on the
brown circular spots with indistinct
surface of the seed piece, and then the
Affects borders. These may cover a considerable
spores wash onto new tubers. Infection
tubers portion of the tuber (Fig. 22). The
takes place through lenticels. Symptoms
affected areas have a distinct silvery
may be visible at harvest, but sometimes
sheen, especially if wet. Tubers may
are not visible until potatoes are in
shrivel in storage due to moisture loss.
storage.
Red- skinned varieties may lose their
color.
Conditions That Promote Disease

The longer the mature tubers remain in

the ground, the more severe the problem
becomes. Fluctuations in storage
temperatures at high relative humidity
(>90%) can result in condensation on
tuber surfaces, allowing the fungus to
sporulate and colonize new tissue.

Disease Look-alikes

Tubers
black dot

Management/Control

● Use disease-free seed.

● Treat seed with fungicides before
planting.
● Follow good crop rotation practices.
● Harvest tubers as soon as they are
22. Silver scurf. mature.
● Disinfect the storage space and
equipment.
● Minimize the amount of soil going into
storage with the tubers.
● Provide good ventilation in storage.

1
 Pythium

Symptoms Disease Cycle

Causal Organism
Pythium ultimum Trow. and other Because the fungus is soilborne and
The rot starts as discolored water-soaked enters the tubers only through wounds,
Pythium spp. (fungus)
areas that appear around a bruise or infection usually occurs only at harvesting
wound. Diseased tissue is clearly or grading.
Affects
demarcated from healthy tissue by a
tubers
dark boundary line. Rotted tissue is
spongy and extremely watery, and Conditions That Promote Disease
ranges in color from gray to brown to
Soil temperature above 70F at harvest
black (Fig. 23).
promotes the incidence of leak.
When a diseased tuber is squeezed, a
Extremely wet conditions followed by a
clear, watery fluid is exuded. Pure
short period of dryness during tuber
Pythium leak is not a slimy rot, but rather
maturation increase the incidence of leak.
gives the tuber the texture of a cooked
Relatively high temperature and poor
potato. Invasion by secondary organisms
ventilation in storage promote the rot.
is common, however, and this may alter
the texture of the rotted area.
Disease Look-alikes

Tubers
pink rot

Management/Control

● Rotate fields out of potatoes for 3 to 4

years.
● The fungicide metalaxyl, applied at
flowering and 2 to 3 weeks later, has
controlled leak in some production
areas.
● Avoid bruising and injury during
harvest.
● Avoid harvesting in extremely warm
conditions.
● If rotting begins in storage, increase
air movement to cool and dry the
tubers as quickly as possible.

23. Pythium leak.

1
 Pink

Symptoms Disease Cycle

Causal Organism
Phytophthora erythroseptica The fungus is soilborne and can infect
Symptoms include brown to blackened roots, stolons, and underground stems.
Pethybr. (fungus)
roots or stolons. In severe cases, leaves Tubers usually become infected through
are chlorotic, stunted, and wilted. The diseased stolons, but infection can occur
Affects
disease usually is identified by the tuber through buds or lenticels. Tubers usually
tubers and foliage
rot. The advancing margin of tuber decay are infected in the field, but the disease
is delimited by a dark line, which is can spread in storage.
sometimes visible through the skin (Fig.
24). The eyes of infected tubers are often
Conditions That Promote Disease
dark brown. Rotted tissues remain intact
but spongy with the consistency of a
Plants that are subjected to water
cooked potato. A clear liquid is exuded if
saturation in fields, especially late in the
a cut tuber is squeezed. The internal
season, will have a higher incidence of
tissues of a cut tuber turn salmon pink
pink rot.
after exposure to air for 15 to 20
minutes, then turn brownish black and
eventually completely black (Figs. 25 and Disease Look-alikes
26).
Tubers
late blight, pythium

Management/Control

● Plant seed in soils with good drainage.

● Avoid excessive irrigation late in the
season.
● Grade and discard infected tubers.
● Provide adequate air flow through the
pile if the disease is detected in
storage.
● The fungicide metalaxyl, applied at
flowering and 2 to 3 weeks later, has
controlled pink rot in some production
areas.

24. Pink rot symptoms on outside of tuber. 25. Pink rot in tuber. 26. Pink rot after pink color has changed to
black.

1
 Black

Symptoms Disease Cycle

Causal Organism
Colletotrichum coccodes (Wallr.) S. Sclerotia survive on the surface of
J. Hughs (fungus) Foliage infected tubers, and once introduced into
Foliage yellows and wilts in mid- to late new fields, can live on infected plant
Affects summer. Symptoms often go unrecog- residue in the soil for a long time. When
foliage and tubers nized because of the similarity of black conditions are favorable, the fungus
dot to Verticillium wilt. White to tan invades underground stem tissue and
lesions often can be found on the stem, if moves upward in the plant. Airborne
wounding occurred there to allow the spores can infect the foliage, especially
fungus to infect the plant (Fig. 27). when it has been injured by windblown
Numerous black dots (sclerotia, which are sand or debris. More sclerotia are
dormant fungal masses) may appear on produced in late stages of the disease’s
the infected stems, stolons, roots, and development. In addition, the fungus can
tubers. The infected stems also have a invade tomatoes and weed species.
purplish discoloration within the vascular
tissue. Small brown lesions (similar to
Conditions That Promote Disease
Rhizoctonia) may appear on the stolons.
Roots may be discolored (brown to black) Ideal conditions that promote black dot
and stunted. include poor soil drainage and aeration,
high soil temperature, and low soil
Tubers
moisture. Low plant fertility also in-
A brownish to gray discoloration, similar creases black dot incidence.
to that caused by silver scurf, occurs on
the tubers, often covering a large portion
of their surface (Fig. 28). Unlike silver Disease Look-alikes
scurf, black dot will produce sclerotia
Foliage
within the discolored area; these can be
verticillium wilt
seen easily with a hand lens.

Tubers
silver scurf

Management/Control

● Plant certified seed.

● Rotate crops with grains,
preferably waiting five years
before replanting potatoes or
tomatoes.
● Keep soil adequately fertilized.
● Irrigate, but avoid excessive watering.
● Avoid skinning or bruising tubers.
● Control weeds.

27. Black dot lesion on stem. 28. Black dot lesion on tuber.

1
 Powdery

symptom may be a scurfy appearance on

Disease Look-alikes
Causal organism: the skin, which, upon examination with a
Spongospora subterranea f. microscope, reveals spore masses (Fig.
Tubers
sp. subterranea Toml. 34). common scab, rhizoctonia
(fungus)
Disease Cycle Management/Control
Affects
tubers, roots, and stolons Powdery scab spores are disseminated ● Disinfect equipment.
on seed or by soil or water movement. ● Plant clean seed.
Symptoms The spores also adhere to equipment, ● Plant less susceptible (russet-skinned)
crates, and sacks, and even remain varieties.
viable in the manure of animals that ● Do not use manure as fertilizer
Powdery scab infections start in the roots have digested them. The spores survive if animals have ingested
and then proceed to the tuber. Lesions in the soil or on seed tubers, and can infected potatoes.
similar to those caused by other root- persist for 6 years. The spores germinate ● Improve soil drainage.
invading organisms may be observed on to release zoospores, which can infect ● Withhold irrigation during tuber set.
the roots and stolons. Galls usually will the plant through root hairs and ● Rotate out of infested fields for 3 to
form on the roots (Fig. 29). The initial lenticels. 5 years.
infections on tubers are purplish-brown
pinhead lesions that develop into a raised Conditions That Promote
pimple-like area (Figs. 30 and 31). When Disease
the pustules are mature, a powdery spore
mass is easily visible within the raised Ideal conditions for powdery scab include
area (Fig. 32). Craterlike symptoms, with high soil moisture and low soil tempera-
raised skin at the borders of the pustules, ture (58 to 68F) . In addition, fields or
sometimes develop (Fig. 33). Another parts of fields that are poorly drained have
a higher incidence of powdery scab.

29. Powdery scab galls on roots. 30. Early symptoms of powdery scab 31. Pimple-like powdery scab pustules.
lesions.

32. Typical powdery scab symptoms. 33. Powdery scab canker stage. 34. Russetlike powdery scab symptoms.

1
 Gray

Symptoms Disease Cycle

Causal organism
Botrytis cinerea Pers. (fungus) Infections become apparent on senes-
Symptoms of gray mold include lesions cent plant parts. The spores of this fungus
similar to those caused by early blight are ubiquitous and are disseminated by
Affects
(concentric rings) or late blight (dark wind and rain.
foliage and tubers
watery decay), occurring at leaf margins
or tips (Fig. 35). Lower leaves that are
chlorotic from shading break down in a Conditions That Promote Disease
slimy rot. A grayish mold is visible on the
Ideal conditions for gray mold include
infected leaves and stems (Fig. 36).
excessive humidity, relatively cool
Although tuber rot is uncommon, a
temperatures, and shading of foliage.
dry rot occurring in storage has been
attrib- uted to gray mold.
Disease Look-alikes

Foliage
late blight, early blight

Management/Control

● Protectant
fungicides.

35. Botrytis on leaf. 36. Botrytis sporulation on stems.

1
 Sclerotinia Stalk Rot (White

Symptoms Disease Cycle

Causal Organism
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) Sclerotia survive in the soil for several
Initial symptoms are the presence of years between susceptible crops such as
De Bary (fungus)
individual wilted plants within a canopy of beans, soybeans, or sunflowers. Sclerotia
healthy-looking plants. Water-soaked lying near the soil surface germinate
Affects
lesions appear on the main stem of the when the crop canopy shades the soil
stems
wilted plants. As the lesions dry out, they and soil moisture remains high for
become a bleached tan color. Under several days. Sometimes the sclerotia
humid conditions, these lesions expand germinate directly, producing a white
and may girdle the stem, causing the fungal mat; however, in most cases a
plant to wilt. White mold is often present mushroomlike structure, called an
on the stem, especially near the soil line apothecium, develops from the sclerotia.
(Fig. 37). Black, hard, irregularly shaped The apothecia are produced for 2 to 8
structures, called sclerotia, develop on or weeks beginning at row closure, and they
in the decaying stems. eject spores onto the foliage. These
spores typically infect dead or dying
tissue that may be in contact with
healthy tissue. As infected stems decay,
sclerotia are formed in the lesions. These
sclerotia will fall into the soil as the plant
tissue decays. It is known that the
sclerotia can survive in the soil for a
minimum of 3 years.

Conditions That Promote Disease

Cool temperatures (61 to 72F) and damp

conditions are required for this disease.
High N fertility, which promotes lush,
dense plant canopies, can produce high
relative humidity and long periods of free
moisture within the canopy, increasing
the incidence of white mold. Older tissue
appears to be more susceptible than
young tissue.

Disease Look-alikes

37. Sclerotinia mycelium growth on stem. Foliage

blackleg, black dot

Management/Control

● Rotate with graminaceous crops and

rotate out of susceptible crops for 4
or more years.
● Perform light, frequent irrigation of
coarse, heavy soils, or less frequent
irrigation of light soils.
● Apply foliar fungicides.
● Flooding of fields between crops
destroys the sclerotia.

1
 Common

Disease Cycle Management/Control

Causal Organism
Streptomyces scabies The pathogen usually is introduced into ● Avoid planting scabby seed.
(Thaxter) Waksman and the soil on seed pieces, and survives ● Increase the time between potato
Henrici (actino- mycetes) indefinitely once the soil is contaminated. croppings in infested fields. Rotate
The organism can survive on decaying with crops such as alfalfa, rye, and soy
In soils with a pH below 5.5, the plant debris and is spread by water or by beans.
acid-tolerant species S. infested soil on equipment. As soon as ● Avoid rotations with carrot, beet, spin-
acidiscabies causes acid scab. tuberization begins, the newly formed ach, turnip, and radish.
tubers are susceptible. They become ● Maintain soil pH at or slightly below
Affects infected through the stomata or lenticels. 5.5.
tubers Mature tubers with a well-developed ● Avoid overliming the soil.
periderm are no longer susceptible to ● Maintain soil moisture levels during
infection. and after tuber set.
Symptoms ● Fungicide seed treatment will
Conditions That Promote reduce scab.
● Plant cultivars with some degree of
Disease
Lesions typically are circular, raised, and resistance (Superior, Monona,
tan to brown in color, with corky areas A soil pH from 5.5 to 7.5 is most favorable Norchip, Atlantic, Kennebec, Norland).
that develop randomly across the tuber for common scab; acid scab favors a soil ● Green manure crops such as rye,
(Fig. 38). Lesions may become irregular in pH from 5.0 to 5.5. Other conditions that millet, and oats may reduce the
shape when they coalesce (Fig. 39). A promote common scab include continu- incidence of common scab.
superficial corklike layer (russet scab) ous cropping with potatoes, coarse soils ● Avoid applying animal manure to fields
occasionally appears instead of the that dry out quickly, and legumes (espe- where potatoes will be planted.
circular lesions. In other cases, the cially red clover) that have been cut down ● Applications of sulfur or acid-
lesions are one-half inch deep (pitted and left on the field. forming fertilizers such as
scab) (Fig. 40). These pitted scab lesions ammonium sulfate lower the soil
are dark brown to black, and the tissues pH.
Disease Look-alikes
underneath are often straw-colored and
translucent. More than one type of Tubers
symptom may be present on a single rhizoctonia, powdery scab
tuber. Symptoms usually are not notice-
able until late in the growing season.

38. Typical common scab symptom. 39. Common scab with many scab lesions. 40. Deep-pitted common scab.

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 Blackleg and Soft

Symptoms Aerial blackleg, a related disease, is

Causal Organisms caused by soft rot bacteria external to the
Erwinia carotovora subsp. seed piece and can occur when bacteria
atroseptica (Van Hall) Dye Stems infected with blackleg have an inky enter wounds caused by hail, windblown
and Erwinia carotovora black decay that usually begins at the sand, insect feeding, or cultivation.
subsp. decaying seed piece (Figs. 41 and 42). In Symptoms are similar to blackleg, but the
carotovora (Jones) Dye (bacteria) severe cases, entire seed pieces or rot does not originate from the seed
developing sprouts rot prior to emer- piece (Fig. 44).
Affects gence, resulting in an uneven stand
stems and tubers count. Leaves of infected plants tend to Tubers with soft rot have brown, slightly
roll upward at the margins, become sunken, water-soaked areas on the
chlorotic, and wilt (Fig. 43). Plants are surface (Fig. 45). Advanced disease
often stunted and appear stiff before symptoms include slimy, completely
wilting and eventually dying. In wet rotted tissues with a foul odor (due to
weather, the decay on the stems is soft invasion by secondary organisms) (Fig.
and slimy, but under dry conditions, 46).
infected tissues may become dry and
shriveled. Tubers produced by infected
plants may have symptoms ranging from
slight vascular discoloration at the stolon
end to soft rot of the entire tuber.

41. Blackleg on lower stem. 42. Blackleg on lower stem. 43. Plant wilted from blackleg.

44. Aerial blackleg. 45. Soft rot symptoms on outside of tuber. 46. Soft rot inside tuber.

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 Disease Cycle Conditions That Promote Management/Control
Disease
● Warm seed pieces to 55 to 60F before
The primary inoculum for blackleg is on or High soil temperature and seed bruising planting.
in seed tubers. Bacteria can be spread favor preemergence blackleg. Cool, wet ● Plant clean seed.
during seed cutting and handling. After soil at planting followed by high ● Avoid planting when soil temperature
being planted, the seed pieces decay, tempera- tures after emergence favor is below 55F.
releasing bacteria into the soil and postemergence blackleg. Extremely wet ● Plant seed in well-drained soil.
sometimes infecting the stem of the host conditions at planting or harvesting ● Frequently clean and disinfect seed
plant. Bacteria may move in soil water promote soft rot. Excessive weeds may cutting and handling equipment as
and contaminate developing tubers of harbor the soft rot bacteria. Soft rot well as harvesting equipment.
adjacent plants. Bacteria can enter infections increase when immature ● Avoid excessive irrigation.
lenticels, growth cracks, or harvesting potatoes are harvested or when the ● Remove infected plants as soon as
injuries. temperature is above 70F during they appear.
harvesting. Excessive bruising, improper ● Harvest only dead vines, preferably
The primary inoculum for soft rot of wound healing, or free moisture and when the temperature is between 50
tubers comes from decaying seed pieces, poor air circulation in storage increase and 65F.
infected plants, infested soil, contami- soft rot incidence. ● Avoid harvesting under extremely
nated seed cutting, or harvesting equip- wet conditions.
ment. Infection occurs through lenticels ● Prevent condensation in the storage
or wounds. Disease Look-alikes
pile.

Stems
late blight

Tubers
late blight, ring rot

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 Ring

Disease Cycle Management/Control

Causal Organism
Corynebacterium sepedonicum ● Use only disease-free, certified seed.
(Spiek. and Kott.) Skapt. and Ring rot bacteria overwinter primarily in ● Use proper sanitation during seed
Burkh. (bacterium) infected seed tubers. Bacteria also can handling. Containers, tools, and
survive on unharvested tubers in the field implements should be cleaned
Affects and can survive 2 to 5 years in dried slime properly and disinfected before use
foliage and tubers on crates, bags, and harvesting or grading and between seed lots.
machinery. The bacteria do not survive in ● Quaternary ammonium compounds,
soil in the absence of potato debris, but hypochlorites, phenolic compounds,
Symptoms can survive on volunteers. Infection and iodine compounds all are effective
occurs through tuber wounds, especially disinfectants.
when they come in contact with contami- ● To be effective, disinfectants must be
Foliage nated machinery. During seed cutting, present on the surface being treated
Foliage symptoms include wilting of the bacteria are transmitted readily to for at least 10 minutes.
stems and leaves, along with chlorosis healthy seed pieces. After infection, the ● Dispose of all infected tubers as soon
and necrosis of leaves. Lower leaves bacteria invade the vascular system. as possible.
usually wilt first and are paler in color than ● Do not plant clean seed in a field that
healthy leaves. Later, the tissue between may contain volunteer plants from a
Conditions That Promote
the veins turns yellow, and eventually the previously infected crop.
Disease
entire stem senesces and dies. Foliar ● Never plant contaminated seed.
symptoms alone are not usually enough Wet soils at planting when the tempera-
to accurately diagnose ring rot. ture is 64 to 72F increase the chance of
infection. The disease develops most
Tubers rapidly when soils are dry and tempera-
In the tubers, a creamy, yellow- to brown- tures are between 75 and 90F.
colored cheesy rot develops in the
vascular ring (Fig. 47). Squeezing tubers Disease Look-alikes
expels creamy, cheeselike ribbons of
odorless bacterial ooze. The vascular ring
may separate from adjacent tissues (Fig. Foliage
48). Slightly sunken, dry, cracked areas verticillium wilt, blackleg
may form on the outer surfaces of
severely diseased tubers (Fig. 49). Tubers
Occasionally, symptoms develop only in verticillium, soft rot
the bud end. Symptoms in tubers
frequently do not appear until after
several weeks in storage.

49. Ring rot symptoms on outside of tuber.

47. Ring rot in vascular tissue of tuber.

48. Ring rot in more advanced stage.

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 Viruses

PVY Disease Cycle

Causal Agents Symptoms vary depending on the
Potato Leafroll Virus (PLRV), cultivar. Current-season infection may All viruses are tuber borne. Several of the
Potato Virus Y (PVY), Potato have no symptoms, but the tubers may viruses are transmitted mechanically from
Virus X (PVX), Potato Virus S become infected. Plants grown from plant to plant or from seed piece to seed
(PVS), Potato Virus A (PVA), and infected seed pieces may develop severe piece. PLRV is transmitted persistently by
others. mosaic, mottle, and necrosis (Fig. 54). aphids. PVY, PVA, and PVS are transmit-
ted nonpersistently by aphids and also are
Affects PVA produces a mild mosaic. transmitted mechanically. PVX is transmit-
foliage ted only by mechanical means.
PVX and PVS may be completely symp-
tomless; however, more than one virus
Symptoms Management/Control
frequently occurs in an infected plant.
Infection with both PVS and PVY causes ● Sanitize equipment and storages.
PLRV severe mosaic symptoms. ● Plant only high-quality certified seed.
Current-season infections (transmitted by ● Plant B-size seed.
aphids) may have no visible symptoms, ● Plant resistant cultivars.
although younger leaves may roll up and ● Monitor and manage the aphid and
appear yellowed or slightly pinkish (Fig. leafhopper populations.
50). On plants that are infected with
diseased seed pieces, the lower leaves
roll up and have a leathery texture (Fig.
51). The plants may be somewhat
stunted and appear upright (Fig. 52).
Some varieties develop symptoms in the
tubers called net necrosis, an internal
browning that fans out from the center
pith area (Fig. 53).

50. Leafroll on upper leaf. 51. Leafroll from infected seed piece.

52. Plant stunted from leafroll. 53. Leafroll symptoms in tuber. 54. Mosaic symptoms from Virus Y.

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 Physiological

Brown Center and Hollow Heart Management/Control

Conditions That Promote
the Disorder
● Select plant varieties that are
Brown center and hollow heart are ● Low soil temperatures (50 to 55F less susceptible.
physiological disorders that are unpredict- continuously for 5 to 7 days during ● Select fields with an optimum level
able and impossible to grade out by tuber initiation) and high moisture tend of fertility and pH. Be sure soils have
conventional methods. These two to favor hollow heart, as does heavy adequate potassium. Avoid very acid
disorders are distinct but closely related. irrigation after the plants are stressed. soils with low cation exchange.
An affected tuber can have a beautiful ● Some potato cultivars are more ● Delay planting on fields that are prone
outward appearance but a hollow or susceptible: Atlantic is susceptible, to low soil temperature and excessive
brown center. whereas Norland and Superior wetness, or that have had serious
seldom have hollow heart. problems in the past.
Symptoms ● Wide plant spacing promotes bigger ● Plant for denser stands. Assure
tubers and tends to favor hollow heart. uniform spacing.
Applying a high rate of nitrogen late in ● Avoid excessive fertilization.
Brown center is characterized by light to the season can encourage hollowheart. ● Avoid excessive irrigation.
dark brown discoloration in the center ● A connection between calcium and ● Do not make side-dress applications of
pith tissues of the tuber. Brown centers hollow heart exists. In stressed plants, boron or calcium.
are referred to as incipient hollow heart. the availability of calcium decreases, ● High potassium levels can reduce
Hollow heart is split tissue in the pith which may cause weak tissue if the hollow heart.
accompanied by a brown to black stress occurs at a critical time in the
discoloration around the split tissue plant’s growth. Complete control is
(Figs. 55 and 56). Although hollow heart difficult, if not impossible, and
usually is found in larger tubers, smaller requires uniform growth and reduced
tubers also can be affected. plant stress.

Hollow heart can begin at different times

during the growing season. It usually
starts early, shortly after tubers begin to
form, but also may occur later in the
season when tubers are enlarging. If
initiated early, the cavity is usually at the
stem end of the tuber, whereas late-
starting hollow heart is closer to the bud
end. Early hollow heart usually is pre-
ceded by a brown discoloration that
indicates dead cells caused by plant
stress. By contrast, discolored tissue
does not appear in late-initiated hollow
55. Severe hollow heart with brown/black 56. Hollow heart.
heart. Symptoms that begin during discoloration.
bulking occur because of a quick change
in the tuber growth rate, which causes
the internal tissue to split.

2
 Internal Browning and Blackspot Bruise Blackheart
Heat Necrosis
This injury occurs as a result of low
These two disorders are distinct but Blackspot is a direct result of a bruising oxygen levels in the interior of the tuber.
closely related. force or an impact. An internal discolora- An irregular black to blue-black pattern
tion begins to develop just under the skin develops in the center of the tuber, and
Internal brown spot is characterized by 6 to 8 hours after bruising has occurred the border of the discolored area usually
small irregularly shaped blotches through- (Fig. 58). is very distinct (Fig. 59). The darkened
out the tuber tissue that may occur at any areas are fairly firm. Blackheart can result
time during the growing season (Fig. 57). Tuber hydration is important. If a tuber is when tubers are held in a low-oxygen
The symptoms tend to increase through- partially hydrated, it is less susceptible; environment or when gas diffusion into
out the season and can continue to fully hydrated and poorly hydrated the tuber is slowed down because of
intensify in storage. Immature tubers tubers are susceptible. Tuber extremely low (32F) or high (96 to 104F)
stored at higher temperatures have a temperature also affects bruising. As the temperatures. This condition can occur in
higher incidence of internal brown spot. temperature drops, more bruising the field when soils are flooded, or in
The disorder has been associated with dry occurs. Fully killed vines reduce the poorly aerated storage.
weather, high soil temperatures, and low impact of bruising, whereas green vines
or fluctuating soil moisture. Normally contribute to bruising. Dry soils
there are no external symptoms. contribute to bruising because the soil
draws water from the tuber. Dry soil
Heat necrosis is similar, but tubers may interferes with skin set and does not
have lesions in the vascular tissue and provide cushioning. Low potassium levels
external symptoms such as depressions increase blackspot.
or cracking in the skin. It occurs most Some potato varieties bruise more easily
commonly in tubers exposed near the than others.
soil surface.

57. Internal browning. 58. Internal blackspot. 59. Blackheart.

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 White Knot Table 1. Characteristics of physiologically young
Physiologically Old Seed and old potato seed.

Young Seed Old Seed

White knot or starch spot is a disorder
that results in the grade-out of finished Storing seed can affect its quality, not slow emergence rapid emergence
only because of the potential introduction
product when tubers are processed into of disease problems, but also because of
chips. It is also undesirable in table stock apical dominance multiple stems
aging. Table 1 describes the
potatoes. White knot appears as a hard characteris- tics of young and old seed few main stems increased stem
white lump in the tuber flesh several (Figs. 61 and 62). branching large, vigorous plants small, weak
millimeters below the surface of the
tuber (usually between the periderm and plants fewer tubers setmore tubers set
the vascular ring) (Fig. 60). No evidence long bulking period rapid bulking
on the outside of the tuber indicates that
long tuberization uniform set
it is present. White knot has been found
mostly in Atlantic, and usually is found large tubers small tubers
when the specific gravity is high. delayed senescence early senescence
high yield low yield

60. White knot. 61. Physiologically old seed with sprout. 62. Physiologically old seed producing
tubers without foliage production.

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 Herbicide/Chemical Injury Air Pollution

A wide range of chemicals can cause Some potato cultivars are sensitive to
abnormal foliage or tuber symptoms if various air pollutants. The most common
applied improperly. Growth-regulating problem is ozone damage. Ozone is a gas
herbicides may cause leaf distortion formed by the action of sunlight on
similar to that caused by virus infections products of fuel combustion. It usually
(Figs. 63 and 64). Vine-killing defoliants forms over cities or industrial areas, but is
may cause necrosis at the stem end that moved by wind to rural areas. Symptoms
resembles the browning caused by vary, depending on the concentration and
Verticillium wilt. duration of exposure. Small dark purple
spots, sometimes with chlorosis or often
with a bronzed appearance, first appear
between the veins on the upper leaf
surface (Fig. 65). Older leaves turn yellow
and may die prematurely.

65. Ozone injury.

63. Chemical injury.

64. Herbicide damage.

26
Acknowledgments Photo Credits
Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences
The author wishes to thank Dr. Winand Christ, B., department of plant
research, extension, and resident education
Hock, professor of plant pathology, and pathology, Penn State University, all programs are funded in part by Pennsylvania
the Pesticide Education Program for figures except those listed below. counties, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
financial support of this project. Sharon and the U. S. Department of Agriculture.
Gripp provided editorial assistance. Schultz, O. E., Cornell University, figures
This publication is available from the
23 and 46. Publications Distribution Center, The
This publication was supported in part by Pennsylvania State University, 112 Agricultural
funding from the Pennsylvania Depart- Unknown, department of plant Administration Building, University Park, PA
16802. For information telephone (814) 865-
ment of Agriculture. pathology, Penn State University, figures 6713.
9, 10, 15,
Author 35, 38, 56, and 57. Where trade names appear, no discrimination
Barbara J. Christ, associate professor of is intended, and no endorsement by the Penn
State College of Agricultural Sciences is
plant pathology. implied.

This publication is available in alternative

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