Potato cancer: symptoms, causes, treatment, photos

Potato cancer is a dangerous disease that completely destroys potato tubers, slowing their growth and making them unsuitable for consumption and planting. This garden disease is common on virtually every continent where this crop is grown. Timely diagnosis and proper care will save the harvest.

What are the possible dangers?

Potato canker is one of the most dangerous diseases known to agronomists. It occurs because the entire crop rapidly infects, first potatoes, then other crops such as beets, peppers, tomatoes, and eggplants. It is caused by a fungal pathogen that settles on the stems or leaves, gradually destroying the plant.

The disease is not dangerous to humans, even after eating potatoes. Although many health authorities recommend against eating potato tubers that are not in good condition, there is no definitive ban. Meanwhile, developed countries are working to eradicate cancer-infected vegetables and ban their distribution.

Signs of the disease

You can recognize a dangerous tuber crop disease by the following signs:

• the appearance of growths on the crop that have an unpleasant appearance;
• formation of wrinkles with small depressions.

The main symptom is growths. In the early stages of fungal infection, they are light yellow, gradually turning brown, and then black. The disease centers on stems, leaves, and the crop itself. As the disease progresses, the growths fall off.

Reasons

A common cause of pathogen infestation is crops being kept in unfavorable conditions—with humidity exceeding 55% and air temperatures exceeding 22 degrees Celsius. There are also several other causes related to poor crop management:

• growing root crops in a shaded area;
• absent, insufficient or improper soil fertilization;
• using low-quality seeds for sowing, which are not resistant to cancer.

Infection occurs instantly. The pathogen attacks the plant from top to bottom—first the green foliage, then the root system and fruit. The disease quickly spreads to neighboring crops, gradually infesting the entire garden.

Routes of spread and sources of the pathogen

Oncological disease is caused by the action of a pathogenic fungus, which penetrates a healthy bush from contaminated soil, thawed water, boots or clothing of an agronomist, tools, or from diseased tubers.

Potato cancer often develops when plants are planted in the same spot several years in a row. Periodically, refresh the soil or choose a new planting site. However, it progresses less during dry periods, as it requires increased moisture.

Types of potato cancer

If you study photos and descriptions of cancer, you can identify several classifications depending on the type and location of the lesion:

• new formations on a loose structure are the main type;
• the appearance of growths on the leaves, shaped like a flattened cone;
• the appearance of wrinkled growths with small depressions inside, a distinctive feature - wavy edges;
• scabby form of the disease, the typical symptom of which is a plaque-like neoplasm.

Each disease poses the same danger—growth cessation or death of the plant. However, they are all harmless to humans or animals. The treatment method for them is also the same.

Methods of combating the disease

Begin treatment immediately after the first signs of the disease appear—the presence of growths on the plant. This will help prevent the progression of cancer and save the harvest. Two effective measures for combating potato cancer are soil treatment and chemical treatment.

Agrotechnical methods

The method for stopping the progression of the pathogen is carried out in the fall. Then, after winter dormancy, a small portion of the pathogenic fungus will remain active before planting the crop in open ground. To protect the plant, do the following:

1. Place corn, rye, or bean seeds deep in the area where the potatoes sprouted. They help destroy spores.
2. In spring, neutralize the soil by fertilizing it with urea in granular form.

This agronomic method eliminates the pathogen and renders it inactive before planting the seeds in open ground. For the next 1-2 seasons, the tubers will be protected from the pest.

Chemical methods

An effective way to eliminate pathogenic fungi from seed tubers and prevent them from spreading from the soil is to treat them with a preparation. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Pour the prepared solution of Benomyl or Fundazol into a deep container.
2. Place the tubers in it and leave to process for 30 minutes.

The disease can be eliminated by treating the soil with Nitrofen. Consult an agronomist who is best suited for this task, as the procedure is dangerous to humans; working with potent poisons can lead to poisoning or respiratory tract burns. After treating the soil, do not plant crops in the affected area for three years.

Prevention

The following measures are used to prevent the development of potato cancer:

1. Regularly inspect the plant. Remove or replant seedlings immediately if new growths are detected.
2. Plant only those seedlings resistant to warts in open ground. These include varieties such as "Yellow Early," "Zorka," "Iskra," "Ogonyok," "Kandidat," and "Smaki."
3. Creating a favorable climate for growing potatoes and timely fertilizing.

If you suspect your tubers are infected with a pathogenic fungus, call an agronomist to your garden. They will confirm or deny the presence of the disease, determine its type, and select the most effective treatment.

Reviews

Raisa

I've been growing potatoes since I was a child, first with my parents, then on my own, and I've never had any problems. But two years ago, I dug up some tubers and discovered that in one plot, I started seeing some unsightly-looking tubers with growths. I sent them off for testing, and they turned out to be canker. I immediately threw out all the infected tubers, not risking using them for cooking. Inexperienced, I planted a new crop in the same spot, and last year, most of it was also infected. I recommend changing the planting site if the disease is detected and sowing rye in the old bed to combat the pathogen.

Agatha

Last year, I noticed that most of my potato plants were infected. After studying an agronomy encyclopedia and examining photos of each species, I realized it was cancer. Naturally, the tubers were also infected and unfit for consumption. I recommend carefully selecting the planting material before planting and maintaining the crop properly, so you won't have any problems with your harvest.

Potato cancer is a common disease in all regions, causing crop yield reduction, quality degradation, or even complete loss. With proper planting, proper care, and preventative measures, its occurrence can be avoided. If the pathogen does infect the crop, use agronomic or chemical control methods.