Potato Fusarium: description and treatment, photo control measures

Fusariosis is a disease that affects many plants, including potatoes. It also received another name - fusarium wilt or dry rot. Fusarium in potatoes is caused by the action of spore fungi of the species Fusarium oxysporum. According to the description of experts, this disease is especially common in the Far East, as well as in the territories of the south and southeast of the Russian Federation. The disease is very dangerous, it can destroy huge areas of potatoes and tomatoes in a short time.

Reasons for the development of potato Fusarium

As already noted, the causative agent of the disease is a certain type of fungus.It can be stored for a long time under various conditions: in plant residues, in planting soil or seeds. In these cases, the fungus enters the plant environment through their root system. The fungus begins to develop, which leads to the formation of fusarium. In most cases, the plant channels through which nutrients move are simply clogged.

Mushrooms get into the root system through the roots damaged during the processing of the soil around the rhizome, by insects (bear or wireworm).

In addition, infection and development of Fusarium can occur for the following reasons:

• use of seed pre-infected with the disease;
• before planting, the soil is poorly prepared, no treatment was carried out against Fusarium;
• potato storage conditions were not met;
• crop rotation was not maintained, potatoes were planted on the same bed for several years;
• weather influence;
• pest invasion;
• lack of mineral and organic fertilizers.

Main symptoms

The period of setting and development of tubers is considered the most dangerous for Fusarium infection. Withering of the plant begins only a month after infection.

The main signs of the disease include:

• leaf curling at the top of the bush - this starts at the earliest stage of the disease;
• appearance of yellow coloration on potato leaves, which first droop and then simply fall off, appears when large areas of beds are infected;
• appearance of brown stems, especially at the top of the bush;
• stems begin to rot in high humidity;
• stems are pulled out of the soil without any effort;
• the appearance of a brown core on the inside of the cut stem;
• presence of dry rot on tubers during potato storage;
• appearance of gray-brown spots on potato tubers;
• the core of the tubers becomes dry and porous, the peel is wrinkled, and voids appear in the core;
• eyes germinate very slowly on infected tubers in spring, their processes are weak and resemble a thin cobweb.

Preventive treatments

To prevent the disease in order to reduce the risk of Fusarium infection, it is necessary:

• use only he althy planting material;
• choose varieties of planting material only those that are able to resist Fusarium;
• choose planting material that is treated by the manufacturer against fungal wilt, such seeds have a distinctive color;
• before storage, as well as before planting, treat potato tubers with a fungicide;
• strictly follow the rules of crop rotation;
• ruthlessly remove infected plants, and together with root soil;
• burn infected plant residues;
• carefully process garden tools that have been used to work with infected plants;
• carefully clean shoes from contaminated soil;
• chlorine treatment of all containers that were used to prepare planting material;
• carefully disinfect the soil, especially the greenhouse;
• fertilize planting soil with potassium oxide or lime.

Preparations for Fusarium wilt

Measures against Fusarium wilt of potatoes are divided into two main groups: biological and chemical.

Biological agents

Biological agents are used to protect against diseases in preparation for planting. For this, drugs such as Bactofit, Integral, Fitosporin-M.

Baktofit

Biktofit is a microbiological preparation designed to combat fungal diseases of various plants, including potato fusarium. It acts directly on the suppression of the development of Fusarium pathogens - fungi. This drug is not recommended to be mixed with other products intended to stimulate plant growth, as well as with certain fertilizers.

The drug is available as a powder or suspension. For use in small household plots, one package contains from 10 to 12 g of the drug.

The consumption of the drug is determined by the manufacturer's instructions. Usually it is 1 g of the drug per 1 liter of water.

Integral

The drug Integral was created relatively recently. It contains live bacteria and has a fungicidal effect. It can perform many functions, from protecting plants to speeding up seedlings by 1-2 days. It is also used to disinfect seeds and promote growth.

Fitosporin-M

The drug can be used for various purposes, but in most cases it is used to treat vegetables.

Potato tubers are processed before planting in the following proportion: 3 tablespoons of the preparation to 1 glass (250 g) of water.

In order to prevent or treat diseased potato bushes, it is recommended to spray them once every 10-14 days. The concentration of the drug should be: 10 g per 5 liters of water. Foliar mass of potatoes is sprayed.

Chemicals

Chemical agents are used to protect potato tubers both during the growing period and during storage. For these purposes, drugs such as Titus, Maxim, Vist and Colfugo Super have proven themselves well.

Titus

Titus is a systemic herbicide that can be used on many plants, including potatoes and tomatoes. Its main purpose is to control weeds. Already after a few hours after treatment, the growth of weeds stops, and after 15-25 days the weeds die.

To process potatoes, it is necessary to prepare a solution of the drug. So, to process one hundred acres of potatoes, it is necessary to dissolve 0.4-0.5 g of the drug in 2-3 liters of water.

Maxim

The drug is intended for the prevention and treatment of fungal diseases of various plants. On the other hand, it stimulates an increase in their immunity, and also prevents the development of various pests. It is widely used in the process of storing potatoes.

This drug has one significant drawback - it does not treat fungal diseases inside the tubers.

To treat potatoes, dissolve 4 ml of the drug in 2 liters of water and mix well. To process 1 kg of potatoes, you need to use 1 liter of water.

Wist

This preparation is used mainly during the period of storage of potatoes. Processing is carried out by fumigation - fumigation of tubers.

The drug is placed in smoke bombs with different dimensions. Fumigation should be no later than a week after laying the potatoes for storage.

Close all doors, gates and other openings in storage before processing. Then light the checkers and for at least 3 hours the closed room is ventilated. After processing, the storage in the closed state should stand for at least a day.

Colfugo Super

The active substance of the drug is carbendazim. The drug is intended for the prevention and treatment of plants from various diseases, including vegetable Fusarium.

To treat potatoes, you need 0.5 liters of the drug per hectare of plants.

Processing scheme

The fight against potato fusarium begins with the preparation of planting material and planting. First of all, it should be remembered that it is possible to plant potatoes on the same beds only after 5 years.

To grow a good and he althy crop, you should adhere to the following scheme:

• Inspect seed in good light. Discard tubers that are suspected of Fusarium disease, as well as dents, spots or other damage to the skin.
• Sprouting tubers. It should start 25-30 days before planting. For germination, it is recommended to place the tubers in a room with a temperature of +19-21 ⁰C.
• Select the strongest tubers with pronounced sprouts.
• Treat the tubers with any disinfectant solution.
• Potatoes should be planted in pre-prepared soil. Planting depth should be within 10 cm.
• Before the stems close, the potatoes are spudded.
• For the purpose of prevention, when the foliage reaches about 25-30 cm, it is sprayed with one of the systemic fungicides.
• The next spraying should be done before flowering. To do this, you can use the drugs Epin, Oxygumat or Exciol.
• Then, after 1-2 weeks, the potatoes are treated with contact fungicides. It can be any drug.
• After flowering, potatoes are treated with Bravo, and then after 7-10 days, the same product is re-sprayed.
• At the stage of potato ripening, it is sprayed with Alufit.
• 15-20 days before harvesting, it is recommended to cut the tops and take them out of the garden. Removing the tops contributes to the rapid overgrowth of the tuber peel when it is damaged. And this will reduce the risks of disease during storage.
• Harvest. This procedure should only be performed in dry weather.
• Bookmark tubers for storage. The storage for this begins to be prepared 2 months before the laying. It must be thoroughly disinfected. Bleach works well for this. To prepare a disinfectant mixture, you need 2 kg of lime per 10 liters of water.

What mistakes do gardeners make?

In the process of growing potatoes, gardeners most often make the following mistakes that contribute to the development of Fusarium:

• due to small planting areas, the crop rotation order is not maintained;
• potato varieties are planted that are not immune to Fusarium;
• harvesting is carried out without first cutting the tops;
• tubers are not examined before planting, and, as a rule, diseased specimens are planted;
• before storing, the storage is not disinfected.

If you follow the above recommendations, then you can not be afraid of potato infection with Fusarium.

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