Characterization of forty-four potato varieties for resistance to common scab, black scurf and silver scurf

Common scab, black scurf and silver scurf belong to serious diseases of cultivated potato that especially impair tuber quality. Tuber infection in 44 potato (Solanum tuberosum ssp. tuberosum L.) varieties was evaluated using two measures – severity and incidence of infected tubers. Both measures were highly correlated. An important result derived from this study supports fungicide application against potato late blight secondarily acts on reducing tuber infection by all evaluated pathogens. Therefore, the conventional potato growing seems to be more effective compared to ecological growing. The pedigree analysis of 44 varieties indicated the presence of Solanum demissum genotypes in the variety genome may negatively affect variety response to Helminthosporium solani presence.

► 1. Silver scurf, 2. common scab, 3. black scurf caused the broadest tuber infection.
► Two evaluating methods of tuber infection were highly correlated.
► Fungicides against late blight reduces tuber infection by all evaluated pathogens.
► Presence of Solanum demissum in the variety genome affects response to silver scurf.