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Chloropicrin Soil Fumigation Reduces Spongospora subterranea Soil Inoculum Levels but Does Not Control Powdery Scab Disease on Roots and Tubers of Potato

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Abstract

The effect of chloropicrin fumigation on the soil populations of Spongospora subterranea and the development of powdery scab, formation of root galls and tuber yield was investigated in seven field trials conducted in Minnesota and North Dakota. Sixteen potato cultivars, with different levels of susceptibility to disease on roots and tubers, were planted in plots treated with chloropicrin at rates ranging from zero to 201.8 kg a.i. ha−1. The amount of S. subterranea DNA in soil was determined using qPCR. Bioassays were conducted to further assess the effect of chloropicrin fumigation on root colonization by S. subterranea in two potato cultivars with contrasting disease susceptibility. In the field, chloropicrin applied at rates between 70.1 to 201.8 kg a.i. ha−1 significantly decreased S. subterranea initial inoculum in soil but increased the amount of disease observed on roots and tubers of susceptible cultivars. The effect of increasing disease was confirmed in controlled conditions experiments. Although the amount of S. subterranea DNA in roots of bioassay plants increased with increasing chloropicrin rates, it remained similar among potato cultivars. Chloropicrin fumigation significantly increased tuber yield which in cultivars such as Shepody and Umatilla Russet were associated with the amount root galls (r = 0.30; P < 0.03). Results of these studies contradict earlier reports on the use of chloropicrin fumigation for the control of powdery scab. Factors other than inoculum level, such as environmental conditions that affect inoculum efficiency and host susceptibility, may be significant contributors to the development of powdery scab and root gall formation.

Resumen

El efecto de la fumigación del suelo con cloropicrina sobre la concentración del inóculo de Spongospora subterranea en suelo y el desarrollo subsecuente de sarna polvorienta en tubérculos, agallas radicales y rendimiento a cosecha fue investigado en siete ensayos de campo llevados a cabo en Minnesota y Dakota del Norte. Diesiceis cultivares de papa con diferentes niveles de susceptibilidad a la enfermedad en tubérculos y raíces fueron sembrados en parcelas tratadas con cloropicrina en dosis comprendidas entre cero y 201.8 kg i.a. ha−1. La cantidad de ADN de S. subterranea en suelo fue determinada usando qPCR. Se llevaron a cabo bioensayos con la finalidad de evaluar el efecto de la fumigación con cloropicrina sobre la colonización por S. subterranea en raíces de dos cultivares de papa con niveles contrastantes de susceptibilidad a la enfermedad. En campo, la aplicación de cloropicrina en dosis entre 70.1 a 201.8 kg i.a. ha−1 disminuyó significativamente la cantidad de inóculo inicial de S. subterranea en suelo, pero incrementó la cantidad de enfermedad observada en raíces y tubérculos de cultivares susceptibles. El efecto de incremento de enfermedad fue confirmado bajo condiciones controladas. Aunque las cantidades de ADN de S. subterranea en raíces de plantas del bioensayo aumentó con la dosis de cloropicrina, permaneció similar entre cultivares. La fumigación con cloropicrina aumentó significativamente el rendimiento a cosecha, el cual se observó asociado a la cantidad de agallas radicales en cultivares como Shepody y Umatilla Russet (r = 0.30; P < 0.03). Los resultados de este estudio contradicen reportes previos sobre el uso de cloropicrina en el manejo de la sarna polvorienta. Factores distintos al nivel de inoculo, tales como las condiciones del ambiente que afectan la eficiencia del mismo y la susceptibilidad del hospedante podrían contribuir significativamente en el desarrollo de la enfermedad.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful for technical and statistical assistance offered by Dr. Luís del Río, Ipsita Mallik, Viviana Rivera, Dean Peterson and Russell Benz of the Plant Pathology Department of North Dakota State University. Portions of this project were funded by the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association, the US Potato Board (now Potatoes USA), and TriEst Ag Group, Inc.

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  1. Department of Plant Pathology, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, 58108, USA

    Francisco G. Bittara, Gary A. Secor & Neil C. Gudmestad

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Bittara, F.G., Secor, G.A. & Gudmestad, N.C. Chloropicrin Soil Fumigation Reduces Spongospora subterranea Soil Inoculum Levels but Does Not Control Powdery Scab Disease on Roots and Tubers of Potato. Am. J. Potato Res. 94, 129–147 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12230-016-9555-z

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