The Relationship of Irrigation Timing and Soil Treatments to Control Potato Scab

The effect of irrigation strategies during tuber initiation on marketable yield and development of common scab disease of potato in Russet Burbank in Tasmania

“…Careful scheduling of irrigation over the period of tuber initiation has been one of the most useful avenues for common scab disease control in some potato growing regions. The value of correct irrigation practices to minimise disease is well documented (Lapwood et al, , 1971(Lapwood et al, , 1973Davis et al, 1974Davis et al, , 1976. Timing of irrigation treatments is critical as soil moisture only affects the rate of infection during the period from tuber initiation until lenticel maturity, approximately 5-8 weeks later (Lapwood & Hering, 1970;Lapwood et al, 1973;Davis et al, 1974).…”

“…Similarly, Lapwood et al (1973) showed that maintenance of SMD of -15 to -20 kPa were required for good disease control. In the United States, Davis et al (1974) found -65 kPa SMD was sufficient to significantly reduce scab disease if additional control treatments such as the use of sulphur were included.…”

The effect of bio-preparations on the infestation of tubers by Streptomyces spp.

“…Numerous authors believe that important effect on tubers' infestation by Streptomyces spp. has soil and climatic conditions, and especially precipitation during the tubers formation period (Davis et al 1974, Rudkiewicz and Zakrzewska 1987, Głuska and Nowacki 2001, Kurzawińska and Gajda 2004.…”

The Relative Importance of Precipitation and Sugar Content in Potato Peel for the Detection of the Incidence of Common Scab (Streptomyces scabies)

“…Several workers (3,8,14) have reported that Streptomyces scabies infects developing lenticels in young tuber and that scab infection occurs mostly between 2-5 weeks after tuber initiation.…”

“…Therefore, irrigation during tuber formation has been an effective method of control (3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14).…”