News on Potato Defects and Diseases from the United States

April 24, 2010

Will there be a sequel to last summer's late blight with tomatoes, potatoes?

Many readers are no doubt aware of last summer's late-blight infestation, in which a fungus, Phytophthora infestans, decimated local tomato and potato plantings. The fungus overwinters in southeastern United States but does not generally overwinter in ...

Potato chips from potatoes affected by the Zebra chips disease (ARS)

October 13, 2009

Liberibacter Species Bacterium Identified as Prime Suspect in Zebra Chip Disease

Since 2000, a mystery disease has struck some potato fields in Texas, Arizona, California, Nevada, and other western states, reducing tuber yields and quality.

August 26, 2009

MSU Plant Pathologist Willie Kirk: monitor potatoes in storage for late blight

The impact of late blight to potato growers in Michigan is clear and we estimate that many growers with crops going in to long-term storage will spend up to $350/A in crop protection products alone (not including application costs). Even such intense c...

July 15, 2009

Late Blight Found In Aroostook (ME) Potato Fields

Farmers in southern and central Maine have already reported cases of late blight in potato and tomato crops. Now the disease has spread to northern Maine.

April 15, 2009

Columbia root-knot nematodes resistant potato developed by ARS scientists

Despite their microscopic size, Columbia root-knot nematodes (CRN) have potential to inflict huge losses—about $40 million annually—by tunneling into potatoes to feed.

March 18, 2009

University of Maine cooperative extension program saves potato farmers 17 million

Maine potato growers are thriving thanks to a late blight spraying advice offered by the University of Maine's cooperative extension program.

July 16, 2008

Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research developed a potato that is resistant to common scab

The humble spud has few natural enemies (beside humans), but common scab disease is one that threatens the whole potato industry. Common scab is one of the most prevalent and costly diseases for the potato industry worldwide. The vegetable research t...