Effect of Seed Potato Tuber Storage Methods on Occurrence of Potato Diseases

Select Volume / Issue:

• Volume 4, Issue 4, July 2017

Year:

2017

Type of Publication:

Article

Keywords:

Bacterial Wilt, Late Blight, Potato Viruses, Solanum tuberosum L

Authors:

Mumia, Bornventure I.; Muthomi, James W.; Narla, Rama D.; Nyongesa, Moses; Olubayo, Florence M.

Journal:

IJRAS

Volume:

4

Number:

4

Pages:

192-201

Month:

July

ISSN:

2348-3997

Note:

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Creative Commons License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/

Abstract:

Many small holder farmers recycle farm saved seed potato and store the seed tubers under sub-optimal conditions. This leads to accumulation and spread of tuber-borne diseases in storage and in the field. This study was carried out with the objective of determining effect of seed potato storage methods on occurrence of diseases and tuber yield. Storage methods evaluated were diffused light, heap, jute bag, dark storage and treatment of seed tubers with gibberellic acid (GA3). The seed tubers were stored for three months after which the tubers were analysed for bacterial wilt and viruses by NCM-ELISA and DAS ELISA, respectively. The tubers were then planted in the field for evaluation of occurrence of tuber-borne diseases. Certified seed tubers were included in the field trials as standard check. Diseases evaluated in the field included bacterial wilt, late blight and viruses. Tubers stored in diffused light and in jute bags resulted in the highest incidence of bacterial wilt. After storage, there was 88.8% bacterial wilt infection in all treatments except in dark storage (100%). At harvest, highest bacterial wilt infection was 100% and 88.8% in symptomatic and non-symptomatic plants respectively. Storage conditions had no significant effect on concentration of potato viruses after storage and on prevalence of viruses in symptomatic and non-symptomatic leaves after planting. The storage methods significantly varied in infection of symptomatic and non-symptomatic leaves with PLRV, PVX, PVS and PVM at up to 100%, 55%, 22% and 44%, respectively. Only certified seed potato had significant effect on yield which was up to 36t/ha. Methods of storage had no significant effect on yield and diseases during plant growth and after ELISA tests. Non-symptomatic tissues tested positive due to latent infection and certified seed was the least affected. Farmers should use recommended methods of storage and certified seed potato for increased yields

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