Soft Rot
Erwinia carotovora subspp. atroseptica
Erwinia carotovora subspp. atroseptica
Bacterium
Potatoes
The tuber phase of blackleg. Tubers may exhibit varying degrees of decay, with the black rot generally extending from the heel end.
Daughter tubers are primarily infected by bacteria from rotting seed tubers before harvest or from contaminated machinery at harvest. Healthy tubers can also be infected through wounds and lenticels (breathing pores) during storage with diseases tubers.
Favourable Factors
Wet soil and mechanical injury during harvest or poor ventilation during storage.
Severe storage losses
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.