Regional spore dispersal as a factor in disease risk warnings for potato late blight: A proof of concept

Abstract

SUMMARYThis study develops and tests novel approaches that significantly reduce the fungicide input necessary for potato late blight control while maintaining the required high level of disease control. The central premise is that fungicide inputs can be reduced by reducing dose rates on more resistant cultivars, by omitting applications on days when conditions are unsuitable for atmospheric transport of viable sporangia and by adapting the dose rate to the length of the predicted critical period. These concepts were implemented and tested in field experiments in 2007 and 2008 in the North Eastern potato growing region in the Netherlands which is known for its high potato late blight disease pressure. Field experiments contained three starch potato cultivars, representing a range in resistance to potato late blight from susceptible to highly resistant, and a series of decision rules determining spray timing and incorporating an increasing number of variables such as: remaining fungicide protection level, critical weather, atmospheric capacity for viable transport of sporangia and the length of the predicted critical period. The level of cultivar resistance was used to reduce the dose rate of the preventive fungicide Shirlan (a.i. fluazinam) by default. A 50% -75% reduction of the fungicide input proved possible in both years without adverse consequences to the crop or yield. The principles can be used in many decision contexts, but further work is needed to test and refine the methods before it can be used in practice.

Can Precision Agriculture Increase the Profitability and Sustainability of the Production of Potatoes and Olives?

“…Farmers mainly apply fungicides with a preventive mode of action. The timing of fungicide sprays can be based on decision support systems that predict infection periods [52]. Fungicide dose of sprays can be based on the aboveground amount of leaves and stems, as measured with crop reflection sensors.…”

Agriculture pest and disease risk maps considering MSG satellite data and land surface temperature

“…Scientists monitoring and modeling agricultural pest patterns generally used low spatial resolutions in-situ weather stations data (Landschoot et al, 2013;Savary et al, 2012;Bao et al, 2011;Pavan et al, 2011;Skelsey et al, 2009;Wharton et al, 2008;Chattopadhyay et al, 2005;Nutter et al, 2002). However, spatial and temporal weather variability and the information resolution required to quantify agricultural pest risks using weather stations normally exhibit a reduced spatial resolution; thus, monitoring agricultural pests by using conventional techniques would require a large number of weather stations to guarantee a reasonable level of geographic confidence.…”

Evolution and Management of the Irish Potato Famine Pathogen Phytophthora Infestans in Canada and the United States

“…The previous history of disease at locations of interest and more detailed information such as possible fungicide resistance are believed to enhance predictive capabilities. Availability of inoculum and aspects of the pathogen life cycle may be included in either statistical or process-based modeling approaches (Skelsey et al 2007(Skelsey et al , 2009. Additional data on the presence and pressure of the late blight pathogen may be added through the deployment of Rotorod or Burkhard spore traps (Bashi et al 1982).…”