Abstract
The goal of this research was to evaluate the management techniques of cultivar selection, fungicide application number, fungicide spray timing, and nitrogen rate management. Cultivars of Superior, Shepody, and Russet Burbank were observed to differ in disease severity and yield. White mold was observed to be a yield limiting factor for Superior with r2 values of 0.65 and 0.66 for the relationship between white mold severity and total and marketable yield, respectively. In contrast, Russet Burbank and Shepody had only 2 % to 4 % of yield variation explained by white mold severity. Superior showed significant yield responses to two boscalid applications as opposed to one or zero, and was the only cultivar to show a response to fungicide application number. Analysis of fungicide application timing showed discrepancies between responses of severity (quadratic effect) and yields (linear effect). Lowest severity was modeled to be at applications made at peak flowering, while highest yields were modeled to be at applications made prior to. Nitrogen rates were observed to affect white mold incidence whereby disease counts were elevated at nitrogen application rates below 134 kg/ha as compared to application rates in excess of 134 kg/ha.
Resumen
La meta de esta investigación fue evaluar las técnicas de manejo de selección de variedades, número de aplicación de fungicidas, tiempos en la aspersión de fungicidas y el manejo del nivel de nitrógeno. Se observaron las variedades Superior, Shepody y Russet Burbank para diferenciarlas en severidad de enfermedad y rendimiento. Se observó que el moho blanco era un factor limitante en el rendimiento para Superior con valores de r2 de 0.65 y 0.66 para la relación entre la severidad de moho blanco y rendimiento total y comercial, respectivamente. En contraste, Russet Burbank y Shepody tuvieron solamente de 2 % a 4 % de variación en el rendimiento adjudicable a la severidad del moho blanco. Superior mostró respuestas de rendimiento significativas a dos aplicaciones de boscalid, en oposición a una o cero, y fue la única variedad en mostrar una respuesta al número de aplicaciones del fungicida. El análisis sobre el tiempo de aplicación del fungicida mostró discrepancias entre respuestas a severidad (efecto cuadrático) y rendimientos (efecto lineal). Se observó que la severidad más baja estuvo con aplicaciones hechas en plena floración, mientras que los rendimientos más altos se observaron con aplicaciones previas. Se observó que los niveles de nitrógeno afectaron la incidencia del moho blanco, en donde las lecturas de enfermedad fueron elevadas a niveles de aplicación de nitrógeno abajo de 134 kg/ha, en comparación con los niveles de aplicación excediendo los 134 kg/ha.
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Acknowledgments
We appreciate the help and support of Erica and Albert Fitzpatrick, Bruce and Brandon Roope, Steve Gray, Gregory Alley-Violette, Elbridge Giggie, and James Dwyer. This work was supported by a grant from the Maine Potato Board Research Committee.
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Plant, A.B., Lambert, D.H. & Porter, G.A. Managing White Mold of Potatoes in a Rainfed Environment. Am. J. Potato Res. 90, 378–385 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12230-013-9315-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12230-013-9315-2