Completed project
Spongospora infection of potato roots – ecology, epidemiology and control (PT14002)
Publication date: March 25, 2019
Delivery Partner: Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture
Powdery scab disease of potato is a common blemish disease that affects potato roots and can result in significant yield losses and impact on the economic competitiveness of the industry. This project ran from 2014 to 2017 and improved current understanding of the pathogen that causes powdery scab. It found that any treatment that delays initial onset of root infection (such as reducing soil inoculum, chemical treatments, and developing host resistance) will delay or slow the infection cycle, leading to reduced root infection, reduced impact on plant growth, and reduced subsequent tuber disease.
The project investigated the lifecycle of the pathogen including how its spores can enter a dormant phase within the soil, how chemicals released by the roots of the host plant can cause spore germination, and how released spores are then attracted to the host’s roots via these same chemicals. The influence of variety, plant stress and environment on these processes was also examined.
The project team identified opportunities for improved disease management, however they noted that further work would need to be done to refine these tools for commercial use. Some findings that are suitable for adoption by industry include:
As fungicides have limited impact on dormant spores, the project also conducted field trials on the use of stimulatory compounds that encourage spore germination whilst there is an absence of suitable host plants. Active spores only persist for a few hours in the soil without a host, so this method could potentially be used to deplete soil pathogen inoculum.
Read an article in Potatoes Australia that summarises the projects findings.
This project was a strategic levy investment in the Hort Innovation Potato - Fresh and Potato - Processing Funds
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