Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Potato blackleg: Epidemiology, host-pathogen interaction and control

  • Bacterial Diseases
  • Published:
Netherlands Journal of Plant Pathology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Blackleg is caused byErwinia carotovora subsp.atroseptica (Eca) andE. chrysanthemi (Echr) in cool and hot climates respectively. The bacteria are opportunistic pathogens and rely on their strong pectolytic character to infect plants when conditions favor their multiplication. Blackleg is a seedborne disease and the bacteria can survive in a quiescent form in lenticels and wounds during storage. The contaminated mother tuber and not the blackleg plant is the main source of progeny tuber contamination. Other sources of the pathogen are airborne (insects and aerosols) erwinias deposited on leaves and from there to the soil and progeny tubers, and erwinias in rotting tubers smeared into wounds incurred during mechanical crop handling.

Most seed tubers are contaminated but blackleg incidence is related to seed contamination level modulated by soil water status. Competitiveness of the erwinias in the rotting mother tuber is affected by temperature, Eca is favored at <25°C and Echr at higher temperatures. The ubiquitousE. carotovora subsp.carotovora apparently fails to compete successfully with the other erwinias and saprophytic pectolytic bacteria in mother tubers and therefore does not cause blackleg.

Disease control measures are based on avoiding tuber contamination by cultural means (early harvesting), reducing tuber contamination level (dry storage and hot water treatment) and planting ‘clean’ seed identified by quantifying tuber contamination rather than by visual crop inspection. Finally, recently identified highly resistant, even under anaerobic conditions, wildSolanum spp. could be used to breed for resistant cultivars by conventional methods or by genetic engineering.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Antonov, L.S., Vayda, N.E. & Lacy, G.H., 1990. Potato tubers: hypoxic resistance to soft rot. In: Klement, Z. (Ed.), Proceedings 7th International Conference on Plant Pathogenic Bacteria Budapest, Hungary, June 11–16, 1989. Akademiai Kiado, Budapest. p. 773–778.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bain, R.A., Pérombelon, M.C.M., Tsor, L. & Nachmias, A., 1990. Blackleg development and tuber yield in relation to numbers ofErwinia carotovora subsp.atroseptica on seed potatoes. Plant Pathology 39: 125–133.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beaulieu, C. & Van Gijsegem, F., 1990. Plant-inducible genes in plant interacting bacteria. In: Klement, Z. (Ed.), Proceedings 7th International Conference on Plant Pathogenic Bacteria, Budapest, Hungary, June 11–16, 1989. Akademiai Kiado, Budapest. p. 701–706.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burton, W.G. & Wigginton, M.J., 1970. The effect of a film of water upon the oxygen status of a potato tuber. Potato Research 13: 150–186.

    Google Scholar 

  • Collmer, A. & Keen, N.T., 1986. The role of pectic enzymes in plant pathogenesis. Annual Review of Phytopathology 24: 383–409.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cother, E.J. & Gilbert, K.L., 1990. Presence ofErwinia chrysanthemi in two major river systems and their alpine sources in Australia. Journal of Applied Bacteriology 69: 729–738.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, M.C., Butler, W. & Vayda, M.E., 1990. Molecular responses to environmental stresses and their relationship to soft rot. In: Vayda, M.E. & Park, W.D. (Eds), The Molecular and Cellular Biology of the Potato. C.A.B. International, Wallingford. p. 71–87.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Boer, S.H., Verdonck, L., Vruggink, H., Harju, P., Bang, H.O. & De Ley, J., 1987. Serological and biochemical variation among potato strains ofErwinia carotovora subsp.atroseptica and their taxonomic relationship to otherE. carotovora strains. Journal of Applied Bacteriology 63: 487–495.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Mendonça, M. & Stanghellini, M.E., 1979. Endemic and soil-borne nature of Erwinia carotovora var. atroseptica, a pathogen of mature sugar beets. Phytopathology 69: 1096–1099.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elphinstone, J.G. & Pérombelon, M.C.M. 1986a. Contamination of potatoes byErwinia carotovora during grading. Plant Pathology 35: 25–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elphinstone, J.G. & Pérombelon, M.C.M., 1986b. Contamination of progeny tubers of potato plants by seed- and leaf-borneErwinia carotovora. Potato Research 29: 77–93.

    Google Scholar 

  • Graham, D.C. & Hardie, J.L., 1971. Prospects for control of potato blackleg disease by the use of stem cuttings. Proceedings 6th Insecticides Fungicides Conference, p. 219–224.

  • Graham, D.C. & Harper, P.C., 1966. Effect of inorganic fertilizers on the incidence of potato blackleg disease. European Potato Journal 9: 141–145.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gudmestad, N.C. & Secor, G.D., 1983. The bionomics ofErwinia carotovora in North Dakota. American Potato Journal 60: 759–771.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hyman, L.J. & Pérombelon, M.C.M., 1990. Sensitivity of the ELISA method to detect potato seed contamination byErwinia carotovora subsp.atroseptica below the threshold level for blackleg development. Proceedings Crop Protection in Northern Britain 1990, p. 219–224.

  • Hedley, D. & Pérombelon, M.C.M., 1990. Tuber resistance to erwinias. Scottish Crop Research Institute Annual Report 1989. Milne, Tannahill & Methven, Perth. p. 58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kikumoto, T., 1980. Ecological aspects of the soft rot bacteria. Report Institute for Agricultural Research, Tohoku University 31: 19–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kotoujansky, A., 1987. Molecular genetics of pathogenesis by soft-rot erwinias. Annual Review of Phytopathology 25: 405–430.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lanham, P., McIlravey, K.I. & Pérombelon, M.C.M., 1990. The production of cell wall dissolving enzymes byErwinia carotovora subsp.atroseptica in vitro at 27°C and 30.5°C. Journal of Applied Bacteriology 70: 20–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lyon, G.D., 1989. The biochemical basis of resistance of potatoes to soft rotErwinia spp: a review. Plant Pathology 38: 313–339.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCarter-Zorner, N.J., Franc, G.D., Harrison, M.D., Michaud, J.E., Quinn, C.E., Sells, I.A. & Graham, D.C., 1984. Soft rotErwinia bacteria in surface and underground waters in southern Scotland and in Colorado, United States. Journal of Applied Bacteriology 57: 95–105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meneley, J.C. & Stanghellini, M.E., 1976. Isolation of soft rotErwinia spp. from agricultural soils using an enrichment technique. Phytopathology 66: 367–370.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pérombelon, M.C.M., 1974. The role of the seed tuber in the contamination byErwinia carotovora of potato crops in Scotland. Potato Research 17: 187–199.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pérombelon, M.C.M., 1981. The ecology of erwinias on aerial plant surfaces. In: Blakeman, J.P. (Ed.), Microbial Ecology of the Phylloplane. Academic Press, London. p. 411–431.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pérombelon, M.C.M., 1982. The impaired host and soft rot bacteria. In: Lacy, G.N. & Mount, M.S. (Eds), Phytopathogenic Prokaryotes, Vol. 2. Academic Press, New York. p. 56–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pérombelon, M.C.M., 1988. Ecology of erwinias causing stem and tuber diseases. In: Report of the Planning Conference on Bacterial Diseases of the Potato, 1987, Lima, Peru. International Potato Center, Lima. p. 143–177.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pérombelon, M.C.M., 1991. The GenusErwinia. In: Ballows, A., Truper, H.G. Dwarkin, M., Harder, G. & Schleifer, K.H. (Eds), The Prokaryotes, 2nd Edition. Springer-Verlag, New York. Chapter 147.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pérombelon, M.C.M., Burnett, E.M., Melvin, J.S. & Black, S., 1989. Preliminary studies on the control of potato blackleg by a hot water treatment of seed tubers. In: Tjamos, E.C. & Beckmann, C.H. (Eds), Proceedings NATO Advanced Research Workshop on ‘Interaction of Genetic and Environmental Factors in the Development of Vascular Wilt Diseases of Plants’, 1988, Cape Sunion, Greece. p. 557–566.

  • Pérombelon, M.C.M., Gallings-Handley, J. & Kelman, A., 1979. Population dynamics ofErwinia carotovora and pectolyticClostridia in relation to decay of potatoes. Phytopathology 69: 167–173.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pérombelon, M.C.M. & Hyman, L.J., 1987. Frequency ofErwinia carotovora in the Alyth Burn in Eastern Scotland and the sources of the bacterium. Journal of Applied Bacteriology 63: 281–291.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pérombelon, M.C.M. & Hyman, L.J., 1988. Effect of latent infection by erwinias on yield. Scottish Crop Research Institute Annual Report for 1987. Milne Tannahill & Methven, Perth. p. 102.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pérombelon, M.C.M. & Hyman, L.J., 1989. Survival of soft rot coliforms,Erwinia carotovora subsp.carotovora andE. carotovora subsp.atroseptica in soil. Journal of Applied Bacteriology 66: 95–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pérombelon, M.C.M. & Kelman, A., 1980. Ecology of the soft rot erwinias. Annual Review of Phytopathology 18: 361–387.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pérombelon, M.C.M. & Kelman, A., 1987. Blackleg and other potato diseases caused by soft rot erwinias: a proposal for a revision of the terminology. Plant Disease 71: 283–285.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pérombelon, M.C.M. & Lowe, R., 1975. Studies on the initiation of bacterial soft rot in potato tubers. Potato Research 18: 64–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pérombelon, M.C.M., Lowe, R., Quinn, C.E. & Sells, A., 1980. Contamination of pathogen-free seed potato stocks byErwinia carotovora during multiplication. Results of a six-year monitoring study. Potato Research 23: 413–425.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pérombelon, M.C.M., Lopez, M.M., Carbonell, J. & Hyman, L.J., 1988. Effect of level of contamination byErwinia carotovora subsp.carotovora andE. carotovora subsp.atroseptica of potato seed tubers and of cultivar resistance on blanking and blackleg development in Valencia, Spain. Potato Research 31: 591–599.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pérombelon, M.C.M., Lumb, V.M. & Hyman, L.J., 1987. A rapid method to identify and quantify soft rot erwinias on seed potato tubers. EPPO Bulletin 17: 25–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pérombelon, M.C.M., Lumb, V.M. & Zutra, D., 1987. Pathogenicity of soft rot erwinias to potato plants in Scotland and Israel. Journal of Applied Bacteriology 63: 73–84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pérombelon, M.C.M., Lumb, V.M., Zutra, D., Hyman, L.J. & Burnett, E.M., 1989. Factors affecting potato blackleg development. In: Tjamos, E.C. & Beckmann, C.H. (Eds), Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on ‘The Interaction of Genetic and Environmental Factors in the Development of Vascular Wilt Diseases of Plants’ 1988, Cape Sunion, Greece. p. 421–431.

  • Samson, R., Ngwira, N. & Rivera, N., 1990. Biochemical and serological diversity ofErwinia chrysanthemi. In: Klement, Z. (Ed.), Proceedings 7th International Conference on Plant Pathogenic Bacteria, 1989. Academiai Kiado, Budapest. p. 895–900.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stanghellini, M.E., 1982. Soft rotting bacteria in the rhizosphere. In: Mount, M.S. & Lacy, G.H. (Eds), Phytopathogenic Prokaryotes, Vol. 1. Academic Press, New York. p. 249–261.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsor, L.L., Nachmias, A., Livescu, L., Pérombelon, M.C.M. & Barak, Z., 1990.Erwinia carotovora subsp.atroseptica infection promotes verticillium wilt development in potato in Israel. Potato Research 33: 3–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Vuurde, J.W.L., 1987. New approach in detecting phytopathogenic bacteria by combined immunoisolation and immunoidentification assays. EPPO Bulletin 17: 139–148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, C.E., Hunt, G.J. & Helgeson, J.P., 1990. Fertile somatic hybrids ofSolanum species: RFLP analysis of a hybrid and its sexual progeny from crosses with potato. Theoretical Applied Genetics 80: 545–551.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Scottish Crop Research Institute, Invergowrie, DD2 5DA, Dundee, Scotland, UK

    M. C. M. Pérombelon

Authors
  1. M. C. M. Pérombelon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pérombelon, M.C.M. Potato blackleg: Epidemiology, host-pathogen interaction and control. Netherlands Journal of Plant Pathology 98 (Suppl 2), 135–146 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01974480

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01974480

Additional keywords

Search

Navigation