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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wapato, Washington » Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #289766
Title: Effects of zebra chip disease on potato postharvest

Author
item Munyaneza, Joseph - Joe
item BUCHMAN, J - Frito-Lay, Inc/plano,tx
item HENNE, D - Texas Agrilife

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/16/2012
Publication Date: 6/7/2013
Citation: Munyaneza, J.E., Buchman, J.L., Henne, D.C. 2013. Effects of zebra chip disease on potato postharvest. In: Proceedings of the 12th Annual SCRI Zebra Chip Reporting Session, ed. F.Workneh, A.Rashed, and C.M. Rush, San Antonio, TX (October 30-November2, 2012). pp. 23-25.

Interpretive Summary: Zebra chip, an economically important disease of potato in U.S., Mexico, Central America and New Zealand, is caused by the bacterium Liberibacter transmitted to potato by the potato psyllid vector. Researchers at USDA-ARS Wapato, WA, in collaboration with scientists from Texas A&M University and Frito-Lay, assessed the risk of the disease developing in potato tubers following harvest. It was discovered that zebra chip may develop in tubers during storage. This information will benefit the potato industry by appropriately handling and timely processing tubers harvested from zebra chip infected fields.

Technical Abstract: Zebra Chip (ZC), an emerging and economically important disease of potato in the United States, Mexico, Central America, and New Zealand, is causing losses of millions of dollars to the potato industry, occasionally leading to abandonment of entire fields. The disease is associated with the bacterium “Candidatus liberibacter solanacearum” (Lso), transmitted to potato by the potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli. Little is known on the risk of ZC developing in tubers while in storage. This is especially a major concern for the Pacific Northwest, where over 50% of U.S. potatoes are produced and majority of which go into storage and where fields are subjected to Lso late infection because of the psyllid arrival into the potato fields late in the season. It has been determined that it takes about three weeks after Lso inoculation for ZC symptoms to develop in potato plants and tubers. Plants exposed to Lso-infected psyllids less than three weeks before harvest generally produce tubers without ZC symptoms. It is not known whether these symptomless tubers will eventually develop ZC in storage. Results of preliminary studies we conducted in 2010 and 2011 indicated that 20 and 60% of Atlantic tubers developed ZC symptoms after two and three months in storage, respectively. A follow up study in 2012 with Russet Burbank, Ranger Russet, Umatilla Russet, Russet Norkotah, Alturas, Atlantic, Pike, FL1867, and FL 1879 showed no significant ZC symptom development in any of the tested cultivars during five months of storage. These results suggest that although ZC may develop in storage, the problem may not be as serious as believed and further investigation is warranted.