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ARS Home » Plains Area » Bushland, Texas » Conservation and Production Research Laboratory » Soil and Water Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #376954
Research Project: Precipitation and Irrigation Management to Optimize Profits from Crop Production

Location: Soil and Water Management Research

Title: Impact of zebra chip disease on potato yield and water productivity in the Texas High Plains Region

Author
item O`Shaughnessy, Susan
item Colaizzi, Paul
item RHO, TONY - Texas A&M Agrilife
item WORKNEH, FEKEDE - Texas A&M Agrilife
item RUSH, CHARLES - Texas A&M Agrilife

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/25/2020
Publication Date: 11/10/2020
Citation: O'Shaughnessy, S.A., Colaizzi, P.D., Rho, T., Workneh, F., Rush, C.M. 2020. Impact of zebra chip disease on potato yield and water productivity in the Texas High Plains Region [abstract]. 2020 ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting, November 10, 2020 (Virtual). Paper No. 131608.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Potato plants infested with Zebra Chip (ZC) experience plant stunting, leaf cupping and chlorosis, tuber discoloration and eventually necrosis. Tuber yields and crop water productivity (CWP) also suffer adversely, but the reduction in these values is not well characterized. In 2018 and 2019, potatoes (cv. FL-1867) were cultivated under a variable rate irrigation center pivot sprinkler and managed at three irrigation levels (I100, I80 and I60, where the numeric values represent percent replenishment of soil water depletion to field capacity). Sub-plots of infested potatoes were established in twelve treatment plots by releasing Haplotype A+B and B psyllids that carry LsO under 4 m X 3 m tents for a 10-day period. Non-infested treatment plots at the same irrigation levels were also established. All plots were replicated four times. A neutron access tube was located in the center of each treatment plot and a soil water balance equation was used to determine seasonal evapotranspiration. Neutron probe readings indicated that soil water in the rootzone of the diseased plots steadily increased approximately three weeks from the date of infestation, indicating when plant water uptake was severely impacted. In contrast, soil water levels gradually decreased in the non-infested treatment plots. Yield losses due to ZC were at least 57% in the dry year of 2018 and 31% in the relatively wet year in 2019 as compared with non-infested potato plants. In the same manner, CWP for plants with ZC disease decreased by 58% in 2018 and by 25% in the relatively wet year of 2019 as compared with CWP of non-infested potato plants. The high economic losses due to ZC disease warrants investigation of sensor feedback methods to detect diseased potato plants and terminate irrigation to save water.