Experiments in the control of verticillium wilt of potatoes in Connecticut 1954

Conclusions and Summary

Attempts were made in the field to control Verticillium wilt of potato. Chemotherapeutants were employled in infested fields and seed treatments in a field in which Solanaceous plants had not been grown for four years. Of the several treatments tested, only an early foliage spray of a high concentration of a growth regulator causing temporary distortion gave a reduction in symptoms. The reduction was significant in two fields, small in one, andnil in one field. This treatment caused a 17–25 per cent reduction in yield in three fields and a non-significant increase in yield in the fourth field.

These experiments indicate that growth regulators may be developed into useful chemotherapeutants for Verticillium wilt of potato. This is particularly important because of the lack of satisfactory control methods at the present time.