Plant Pathology (2003) 52, 119-126

I.K. Toth, L. Sullivan, J.L. Brierley, A.O. Avrova, L.J. Hyman, M. Holeva, L. Broadfoot, M.C.M. Pérombelon and J. McNicol (2003)
Relationship between potato seed tuber contamination by Erwinia carotovora ssp. atroseptica, blackleg disease development and progeny tuber contamination
Plant Pathology 52 (2), 119-126
Abstract: The relationship between contamination of potato seed tubers with Erwinia carotovora ssp. atroseptica (Eca), blackleg disease development, and the incidence and level of progeny tuber contamination in field grown crops was studied in 1998, 1999 and 2000. Seed tubers were inoculated by vacuum infiltration at three levels (low, intermediate and high) with a streptomycin-resistant marker strain of Eca (SCRI1039^Str) and planted in the field. Blackleg disease development was directly related to the level of seed tuber contamination. The higher the level of seed tuber contamination, the earlier in the season blackleg disease appeared and the greater the final level of disease, which continued to rise as the season progressed. High and low levels of seed tuber contamination were related to high and low incidences of progeny tuber contamination, respectively, at all sampling times. However, an intermediate degree of seed tuber contamination tended to be associated with a low level of blackleg disease, a variable incidence of progeny tuber contamination early in the season but a high incidence later in the season. The level of progeny tuber contamination, derived from seed tubers inoculated at the three different levels of Eca, was categorized into four contamination classes (< 10², 10²-10³, 10³-10⁴ and > 10⁴ marker strain colony-forming units/mL peel extract). At the lowest level of seed tuber contamination, progeny tuber contamination tended to be in the two lower categories. However, as seed tuber contamination increased, the proportion of contaminated progeny tubers in the two higher categories also increased. Overall, the results suggest that progeny tuber contamination is related to seed tuber contamination and blackleg disease, and that the threshold level of seed tuber contamination remains an important factor in predicting both blackleg disease and tuber health.
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Database assignments for author(s): Ian K. Toth

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
population dynamics/ epidemiology
transmission/dispersal of plant diseases

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Pectobacterium atrosepticum	Potato (Solanum tuberosum)