Potato Fusarium: Control Measures, Photos, and Description

Fusarium wilt of potatoes is a disease that causes significant damage to crops. Other names for the disease include dry rot and fusarium wilt.

Fusarium wilt frequently attacks potato crops. This disease is a major nuisance for gardeners and can destroy a significant portion of the harvest. To protect crops, preventative measures and chemical treatments are essential.

Description and characteristics of fusarium wilt of potatoes

Fusarium wilt is considered a fungal disease. It develops quite rapidly and can destroy plants in a short period of time. The disease becomes especially active during tuber formation. If control measures are not taken promptly, up to 40% of the crop can be lost.

Signs of the disease become more noticeable during the day. This is because plants need moisture at high temperatures. During this period, the leaves turn white and begin to curl. Later, the leaf blades die, and the plants die.

Fusarium wilt on potatoes: causes

The disease can develop for various reasons. The main ones are the following:

• sowing infected tubers;
• poor preparation of the site before sowing;
• improper storage of potatoes;
• failure to comply with rules during harvesting and transportation;
• incorrect crop rotation in the crop rotation system;
• growing potatoes at temperatures above 25 degrees and air humidity of 90%;
• when there is a lack of mineral and organic substances in the soil.

Please note that growing potatoes on infertile soil can lead to various diseases. Therefore, the crop requires fertilization.

Symptoms and biology of Fusarium wilt

The main signs of Fusarium wilt of potatoes appear within a month of infection. Symptoms that indicate the disease's development include:

• the upper leaves lose their original color and begin to curl;
• When crops are heavily infested, the leaves turn yellow and droop. After a while, they fall off completely;
• The stem takes on a brown color. The color change is mainly in the upper part;
• At high humidity, the stems begin to rot. A white coating appears at the infected areas;
• Infected plants produce poor-quality crops. The tubers begin to rot during storage.

Fusarium infection of harvested crops during storage

Using infected tubers for planting is strictly prohibited. This can result in a loss of up to 15% of the harvest. Since signs of fusarium wilt become visible only after several months, identifying the disease can be very difficult. Brown bruises appear on the tubers, and the skin becomes soft and wrinkled. Additionally, pads of varying shades are present across the entire surface. These can be pink or orange. The color depends on the type of fungus.

Over time, the disease spreads through the fruit, and neighboring root crops can infect adjacent tubers. If potatoes are stored improperly, up to 20% of the harvest can be lost.

Fusarium can enter the basement along with soil on tubers. Temperature changes create an optimal environment for fungal growth.

Please note that potatoes damaged during harvesting and transportation are particularly susceptible to the disease. Potatoes damaged by pests are also susceptible to the disease.

Methods of combating fusarium wilt of potatoes

To protect your crops from Fusarium wilt of potatoes, it's important to familiarize yourself with control measures. Plants can be treated with biological or chemical agents. Each group deserves attention and helps preserve the harvest.

1. Biological products. Designed for treating tubers before planting. Products such as Baktofit, Integral, and Fitosporin have proven effective.
2. Chemicals. Before storing tubers, they need to be treated. Titus can be used for this purpose. To do this, the tubers should be immersed in the solution.

Maxim has also proven itself effective. It can be used to treat tubers before storage or immediately before sowing. Tubers can also be treated with Colfuto Super before planting.

Bulk Vist checkers allow potato processing directly in storage.

Reviews

Svetlana, 37 years old:

"When inspecting the potatoes, I discovered rot. I studied the disease profile and realized the tubers were infected with fusarium. As a result, I had to throw out part of the harvest. I think the losses were due to not treating the potatoes before storing them."

Fusarium wilt is a dangerous disease. Only by following basic potato growing guidelines can you protect your crop.