Ring rot in volunteer plants

Conclusion

The writer has evidence that the causal organism of ring rot did not remain visible through the winter in the soil of certain fields that produced a badly diseased crop. This, however, does not prove that the ring rot organism may not survive the winter in the soil under some conditions. The disease was proved to be perpetuated in the field in infected tubers which survive the winter and produce volunteer plants. These may contaminate any disease-free stock that may be planted in the same soil.

Growers are advised to plant their seed plots on land which was not planted to potatoes the previous year. They would do well to go over the prospective seed plot area the year before it is to be used for this purpose, and to make certain that all volunteer potato plants are destroyed.