Abstract
Pink rot caused by the pathogen Phytophthora erythroseptica Pethyb. causes severe pre- and post-harvest losses in potato. Severe losses of potato from pink rot infection suggest the need for better information on cultural factors associated with disease development. Soil pH has been regarded as a strong influence on disease development as observed by previous studies and by commercial potato growers. A hydroponic growth system was established to study the effects of pH on P. erythroseptica infection and colonization in Russet Norkotah potato roots. Russet Norkotah plantlets were grown in hydroponic nutrient solutions buffered at pH 5, 6, 7, and 8 and evaluated for infection by means of quantitative Real Time PCR. Acidic pH solutions produced a higher proportion of pathogen to host DNA in root tissue, indicating increased infection and colonization at low pH. Thus, pH has a unique and significant influence on the levels of infection from P. erythroseptica and that commercially grown potatoes would likely develop reduced tuber rot if grown in soils with pH at or above 7.
Resumen
La pudrición rosa, causada, por el patógeno Phytophthora erythroseptica Pethyb, causa severas pérdidas pre- y post-cosecha en papa. Las grandes pérdidas por la infección de la pudrición rosa sugiere la necesidad de mejor información sobre factores culturales asociados con el desarrollo de la enfermedad. Se ha asociado al pH del suelo como de una fuerte influencia en el desarrollo de la enfermedad, como se ha visto en estudios previos y por los productores comerciales de papa. Se estableció un sistema hidropónico de crecimiento para estudiar los efectos del pH en la infección y colonización por P. erythroseptica en raíces de papa Russet Norkotah. Plántulas de Russet Norkotah se cultivaron en soluciones nutritivas hidropónicas amortiguadas a pH de 5, 6, 7 y 8 y se evaluaron para infección mediante PCR cuantitativa de tiempo real. Las soluciones de pH ácidos produjeron una proporción mas alta de ADN del patógeno que del hospedante en tejido radical, indicando un aumento en la infección y en la colonización a pH bajo. En consecuencia, el pH tiene una influencia única y significativa en los niveles de infección por P. erythroseptica y es probable que las papas comerciales desarrollen infección reducida de tubérculo si se cultivan en suelos con pH a o arriba de 7.
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Benson, J.H., Geary, B., Miller, J.S. et al. Phytophthora erythroseptica (Pink Rot) Development in Russet Norkotah Potato Grown in Buffered Hydroponic Solutions II. pH Effects. Am. J. Pot Res 86, 472–475 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12230-009-9102-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12230-009-9102-2