Skip to main content
ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Kimberly, Idaho » Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #59950
Title: THE INFLUENCE OF COVER CROPS ON THE SUPPRESSION OF VERTICILLIUM WILT OF POTATO

Author
item DAVIS, J - UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO
item HUISMAN, O - UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
item Westermann, Dale
item SORENSEN, L - UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO
item SCHNEIDER, A - UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO
item STARK, J - UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO

Submitted to: American Phytopathological Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/1/1994
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: As pesticide and fumigant options are withdrawn, we shall become increasingly dependent upon the use of alternative methods for management of Verticillium wilt of potato. In addition to resistant cultivars and solarization, green manures may be a viable tool for the suppression of this disease. Not only does it provide an alternate approach for disease control, it offers potential for increasing the availability of plant nutrients to the potato, the possibility of reducing ground water contamination, and a positive shift in the soil environment toward beneficial microflora.

Technical Abstract: In Idaho and other arid regions of the world, Verticillium wilt of potato is caused by a soilborne fungus. Field studies involving soil fumigation, solarization, and cropping practices that result in different soil inoculum levels demonstrate the importance of this disease. Research in Idaho has consistently demonstrated that yield losses due to Verticillium wilt commonly exceed 5 to 12 metric T/ha. When the inoculum concentration in the soil is high, size and quality of potato tubers also may be affected. Thus, the impact of this disease is of economic importance and the need for control persists.