Fusarium potato: control measures, photo, description

Potato fusarium is a disease that causes enormous damage to crops. Other names for the disease are known: dry rot, fusarium wilt.

Fusarium often affects potato crops. The disease brings trouble to summer residents, can destroy a significant part of the crop. To protect crops, it is necessary to carry out preventive measures and treat crops with chemicals.

Description and characteristics of potato fusarium

Fusariosis is considered a fungal disease. It is developing quite quickly. In a short period of time it can destroy plants. The disease becomes particularly active during the formation of tubers. If timely measures are not taken, up to 40% of the crop can be lost.

Signs of illness in the daytime become more visible. This is due to the fact that at high temperature the plants need moisture. During this period, the leaves acquire a white color, begin to curl. Later, leaf blades die off and plants die.

Fusarium on potatoes: causes

The disease can appear for various reasons. The main ones are the following:

• sowing infected tubers;
• poor preparation of the site before sowing;
• improper storage of potatoes;
• non-compliance with the rules when harvesting, transporting it;
• incorrect crop rotation in the crop rotation system;
• growing potatoes at a temperature of more than 25 degrees and humidity of 90%;
• with a lack of mineral and organic substances in the soil.

Please note that if you grow potatoes on badlands, various diseases can develop. Therefore, the culture needs to be fertilized.

Symptoms and biology of Fusarium wilt

The main signs of fusarium wilting of potatoes appear a month after infection. Symptoms that indicate the development of the disease are as follows:

• upper leaves lose their former color and begin to curl;
• with a massive defeat of crops, the leaves become yellow, drooping. After a while, they completely fall off;
• the stalk acquires a brown color. Basically, the color changes in the upper part;
• at high humidity, the stems begin to rot. In places of infection, a white coating appears;
• infected plants produce poor crops. During storage, the tubers begin to rot.

Fusarium infection of the harvested crop during storage

It is strictly forbidden to use infected tubers for planting. In this case, you can lose up to 15% of the crop. Since the signs of fusariosis become noticeable only after a few months, determining the disease can be very difficult. Brown dents appear on the tubers, the skin becomes soft and wrinkled. In addition, pads of various shades are present on the entire surface. They can be pink, orange. Color depends on the type of fungus.

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Over time, the disease spreads through the fruits, neighboring root crops can infect nearby tubers. With improper storage of potatoes, you can lose up to 20% of the crop.

Fusarium can fall into the basement with the earth on tubers. When the temperature changes, an optimal environment for the development of mushrooms is created.

Please note that potatoes damaged during harvesting and transportation are the first to be affected. The disease also damages the tubers, which spoiled the pests.

Potato Fusarium Fighting Methods

To protect crops from Fusarium wilting of potatoes, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with control measures. It is possible to treat plants with biological or chemical agents. Each of the groups deserves attention; it helps to keep the crop.

1. Biological agents. Designed for processing tubers before planting. Well-proven drugs such as Bactofit, Integral, Fitosporin.
2. Chemicals Before laying tubers for storage, they must be processed. To do this, you can use the drug Titus. For the procedure, tubers should be immersed in a solution.

In addition, the drug Maxim has proven itself well. They can be processed tubers before laying for storage or immediately before sowing. Also, before planting, tubers can be treated with Colfuto Super.

Bulk checkers Whist allow you to process potatoes directly in the store.

Reviews

Svetlana, 37 years old:

“When I examined the potatoes, I found rot. I studied the characteristics of diseases, I realized that tubers are affected by Fusarium. As a result, part of the crop had to be thrown away. I think the losses are due to the fact that I didn’t process the potatoes before putting them into storage. ”

Fusariosis is a dangerous disease. Only observing the basic rules of growing potatoes will it be possible to protect the crop.