Dry Rot
Fusarium spp (4 different species have been identified)
Fusarium spp (4 different species have been identified)
Fungus
Potatoes
Concentric wrinkles develop on the tuber skin with white, pink or blue fungal patches. The rot inside the tuber is usually pale brown in colour with an undefined margin.
The fungus is carried on seed tubers and can also survive in the soil for up to 7 years. Tubers are infected when inoculum in soil is impacted into wounds. Rotting usually develops late in storage as the temperature begins to rise.
Favourable Factors
Warm, humid storage conditions (12 - 20C).
One of the most important storage diseases of potatoes in the UK. In the growing crop a problem causing uneven emergence, reduced yields and variable tuber sizes.
Find out more information on the key disease threats to your potato crop. For each disease you will find out the importance of the disease in terms of potential yield penalty, how to identify the disease in its early stages and our advice on the best control strategies.