Compendium of Potato Diseases - (PDF, 101 mb) - USAID

A potato disease is an interaction between a host (the potato)
and a pathogen (bacterium, fungus, virus, mycoplasma,
nematode, or adverse environment) that impairs productivity or
usefulness of the crop. Frequently, adverse environmental
effects are sufficient to initiate disease in the absence of an
infectious entity. The host-pathogen interaction is influenced by
environment acting on either the potato or the pathogen or on
both and is determined by the genetic capabilities of I) the
potato in being either susceptible or resistant and 2) the
pathogen in being pathogenic (virulent) or nonpathogenic
(avirulent).
Furthermore, disease or adverse environment in one portion
of the potato life cycle may severely limit effectiveness of
production or quality at a later date. For example, field
problems frequently become storage problems, which may later
performance and, ultimately,
h
yielding ability.
The value of any crop determines the extent to which control
measures may be justified. Relatively speaking, the potato is a
high-value crop with complex production, storage, and
utili7ation problems, and therufore relatively elaborate
prevention practices are appropriate. Correct diarnosis and
identification of disease is of paramount :mntortance for initiation
of appropriate control and prevention measures.
General References
BLODGETT, E. C., and A. E.RICH. 1949. Potato tube," diseases,
Importance
The potato is the most important dicotyledonous source of
human food. It ranks as the fifth major food crop of the world,
exceeded only by the grasses-wheat, rice, maize (corn), and
barley. In North America, dry matter production of potatoes
per unit ofland Lrea exceeds that ofwheat, barley, andmaizeby
factors of 3.04, 2.68, and 1.12, respectively. Yields of protein per
unit of land area exceed those of wheat, rice, and maize by
factors of 2.02, 1.33, and 1.20, respectively.
Pecause of increasing yields per unit area of land, total potato
production has been increasing even though the area of land
planted to potatoes isdecreasing. Yields in northern Europe and
North America (1970-1973) generally ranged from 20 to over
35 metric ton/ha (178-311 cwt/A) and were somewhat lower in
the war mer areas of Europe. The percentage of arable land in
potato production ranges from less than 1%in Canada and the
Introduction
Potato Disease
defects, and insect injuries in the Facific Northwest. Wash. Agric.
Exp. Stn. Pop. Bull. No. 195. 116 pp.
CALDERONI, A. V. 1978. Enfermedades de lapapa y su control.
Editorial Hemesferia Sur S. A., Buenos Aires. 143 pp.
FRENCH, E. R., H. TORRES, T.A. de ICOCHEA, L. SALAZAR,
C. FRIBOURG, E. N. FERNANDEZ, A. MARTINJ. FRANCO,
M. M. de SCURRAH], 1.A. HERRERA, C. VISE, L. LAZO, and
O.A. HIDALGO. 1972. Enfermedade.; de laPapa en el Peri6. Bol.
Tecn. No. 77 Est. Exp. Agric. La Molina. 36 pp.
HODGSON, W. A., D. D. PONDandJ. MUNRO. 1974. Diseasesand
pests of potatoes. Canada Dept. Agric. Publ. 1492. 69 pp.
KEI.L.ER. E. R., and A. ZAII. 1969. l)ictionarv of Iechnical Terms
Relating to the Potato (in English. (erman. and French). Fur.
Assoc. Iot. RCS..luris-I)ruck. Zurich. III pp.
McKAY, R. 1955. Potato Diseases. Irish Potato Marketing Co., Ltd.,
Dublin. 126 pp.
O'BRIEN, M.J.,and A. E. RICH. 1976. Potato Diseases. U.S. Dept.
Agric., Agric. Res. Serv., Agriculture Handbook No. 474. 79 pp.
SALZMANN, R.. and E. R. KEI.LER. 1969. Krankheiten und
Schadlinge der Kartoffel. Verbandsdruckerei. AG, Bern. 150 pp.
SCHICK, R., and M. KLINKOWSKI. 1961. Die Kartoffcl, ein Handbuch.
Vol. I. 1,007 pp.; Vol. 11,2,112 pp. Veb Deutscher Landwirtschaftsverlag,
Berlin.
SMITH, W. L., Jr., and J. B. WILSON 1978. Market diseases of
potatoes. U.S. Dept. Agric., Agric. Handbook No. 479. 99 pp.
WHITEHEAD, W,.f. P. McINTOSH. and W. M. FINDLAY. 1953.
The potato inhealth and disease, 3rd ed. Oliver and Boyd, London.
774 pp.
The Potato
(Prepared by W. J. Hooker)
United States to 18% or more in the Netherlands and Poland.
The USSR, China, and Poland lead in area of land in potato
production.
In the tropics (between 300 north and south latitudes) yields
are below 13 ton/ha (116 cwt/A), more commonly below 10
tons (89cwt/A), and the percentage ofarable land in potatoes is
low except in Peru (13%). However, potato production is
increasing as measured by land area in potato production, yield
per hectare, and total production.
Most potatoes are used for human consumption. In the
tropics potatoes are often available only in certain seasons
because of storage problems. Approximately 50% of Europran
potato production is used as stock feed, with perhaps 25% of
table stock potatoes being diverted to stock feee because of
defects.
The potato is characteristically a crop of the cool, temperate
reg.ins or of elevations of approximately 2,000 m (6,560 ft) or
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