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Effects of differential rates of nitrogen and phosphorus on early blight in potatoes

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Abstract

The Kennebec variety of potato was exposed toAlternana solani inoculum during the 1970 and 1971 seasons to determine the effects of differential rates of nitrogen and phosphorus on the incidence of early blight. Both high nitrogen and low phosphorus treatments significantly reduced the incidence of early blight and the combination of high nitrogen and low phosphorus consistently gave the lowest incidence of the disease during both years. The data suggest that this combination of nutrients may be related to early blight resistance in the plant by extending the period of meristematic activity permitting the plant to wall off infection. Yield data indicated that there was too great a yield difference between fertilization for optimum early blight control and fertilization for optimum yield. Therefore, in Maine, potatoes should be fertilized for optimum yield with a reasonable specific gravity, and early blight should be controlled by the application of fungicides and sanitation measures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bon Accord Seed Potato Farm, Plant Industry Branch, New Brunswick Dept. of Agriculture & Rural Development, R. R. 2, Perth, New Brunswick, Canada

    G. M. Barclay (Officer-in-Charge)

  2. Dept. of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Maine, 04473, Orono, Maine

    H. J. Murphy (Associate Professor of Agronomy)

  3. Dept. of Botany and Plant Pathology, University of Maine, 04473, Orono, Maine

    F. E. Manzer (Professor of Plant Pathology)

  4. Dean, College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, Canada

    F. E. Hutchinson

Authors
  1. G. M. Barclay
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  2. H. J. Murphy
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  3. F. E. Manzer
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  4. F. E. Hutchinson
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Additional information

Former Graduate Student, Dept. of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, Maine 04473.

Former Professor of Soil Science, Dept of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, Maine 04473.

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Barclay, G.M., Murphy, H.J., Manzer, F.E. et al. Effects of differential rates of nitrogen and phosphorus on early blight in potatoes. American Potato Journal 50, 42–48 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02855367

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02855367

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