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Rhizoctonia disease of potatoes (Rhizoctonia solani): Fungicidal efficacy and cultivar susceptibility

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Abstract

Rhizoctonia stem canker and black scurf is an economically important disease of potatoes in Alberta and around the world. It reduces the quality and yield of potatoes and has become an important impediment for export of seed potatoes, especially to Mexico. Seed treatment using fungicides, presently registered in Canada, are not effective in controlling the disease to growers’ satisfaction. Field experiments conducted to evaluate the efficacy of various fungicides showed that captan (Captan), iprodione (Rovral), mancozeb (Tuberseal), and fludioxonil (Maxim) provide effective control of the disease. Of these fungicides, fludioxonil consistently provided superior protection. Based on the results of this study, Maxim was registered in 2000 for control of this disease in Canada. Potato cultivars/breeding selections showed a range of susceptibility reactions toR. solani but none of these was completely resistant to the disease. The information on comparative susceptibility of potato cultivars will help the growers make informed decisions regarding the management of this disease. Of six plant species (Beta vulgaris,Brassica compestris, Hordeum vulgare, Pisum sativum,Triticum aestivum, Zea mays) most commonly used in rotation with potatoes in Alberta, none was infected by potato isolates ofR. solani. The results suggested that use of these plant species as rotation crops with potatoes in Alberta will help in reducing the development of rhizoctonia disease in potatoes.

Resumen

El cancro del tallo y costra negra causado por la rizoctonia es una de las enfermedades económicamente más importantes de las papas en Alberta y otras partes del mundo. Esta enfermedad reduce la calidad y el rendimiento de los tubérculos y se ha convertido en una limitación importante para la exportación de semillas de papa especialmente a México. El tratamiento de las semillas usando fungicidas, de preferencia registrados en Canada, no cumple las expectativas de los agricultores sobre el control de la enfermedad. Los experimentos en campo realizados para evaluar la eficacia de diversos fungicidas muestran que el captan (Captan), iprodione (Rovral), mancozeb (Tuberseal) y fludioxonil (Maxim) proporcionan un control efectivo de la enfermedad. De todos ellos, el fludioxonil proporciona una protección superior. Basados en los resultados de esta estudio, en el 2000 se registró a Maxim para el control de esta enfermedad en Canadá. Los cultivares de papa/selecciones por mejoramiento mostraron una gama de reacciones de susceptibilidad a R. solani pero ninguno fue completamente resistente a la enfermedad. La información sobre susceptibilidad comparada de los cultivares de papa ayudará a los agricultores a tomar decisones sobre la base de una mejor información considerando el manejo de esta enfermedad. De las seis especies de plantas más comúnmente usadas en rotación con las papas en Alberta (Beta vulgaris, Brassica compestris, Hordeum vulgare, Pisum sativum, Triticum aestivum, Zea mays), ninguna fue infectada con aislamientos de R. solani. Esos resultados sugieren que el uso de esas especies de plantas como cultivos rotatorios con las papas en Alberta podrían ayudar a reducir el desarrollo de la rizoctonia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Crop Diversification Centre North, Alberta Agriculture, Food & Rural Development, R.R. #6, T5B 4K3, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

    P. S. Bains & H. S. Bennypaul

  2. Research Centre, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, T1J 4B1, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada

    D. R. Lynch & L. M. Kawchuk

  3. Crop Diversification Centre South, Alberta Agriculture, Food & Rural Development, SS #4, T1R 1E6, Brooks, Alberta, Canada

    C. A. Schaupmeyer

Authors
  1. P. S. Bains
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  2. H. S. Bennypaul
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  3. D. R. Lynch
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  4. L. M. Kawchuk
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  5. C. A. Schaupmeyer
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Bains, P.S., Bennypaul, H.S., Lynch, D.R. et al. Rhizoctonia disease of potatoes (Rhizoctonia solani): Fungicidal efficacy and cultivar susceptibility. Am. J. Pot Res 79, 99–106 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02881518

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