Epidemiology and control of pink rot in potatoes.

Abstract

Rotting of tubers was reported in early potato crops in Co. Wexford in 1995. Geotrichum candidum, which causes a condition known as rubbery rot, was isolated from a sample of affected tubers. In further investigations in 1996 both G. candidum and Phytophthora erythroseptica, the cause of pink rot, were isolated from diseased tubers. In pathogenicity tests P. erythroseptica re-infected tubers while G. candidum did not. It was concluded that the disease was pink rot. In 1997 foliar applications of the systemic fungicide metalaxyl were evaluated for its control. The level of control obtained was insufficient to overcome the problem which pink rot can cause in early potatoes.