Investigations towards control of Rhizoctonia solani in organic potato cultivation

Cooperations

  • Oliver Hensel, Dept. Agricultural Engineering
  • Maria R. Finckh, Dept. Ecological Plant Protection

Funding

  • Landwirtschaftskammer Niedersachsen (Project 5 5233 07)
  • Com. Ökokontor and Com. Europlant (Kartoffelzüch­ter) (Project 6523304)

Duration

4 / 2008 - 12 / 2008

Participants at FOEL

  • Christian Bruns
  • Elmar Schulte-Geldermann
  • Eberhard Kölsch
  • Jürgen Heß

Black scurf of potato is caused by the fungus Rhizoctonia solani and becomes an increasing problem in potato production. It is visible through various symptoms which can lead to substantial losses of quality and quantity. The pathogen can survive on a long term either in soil or on tubers.  Whereas chemical pesticides can be used in conventional production systems successful control strategies are nearly missing for organic growing systems. Therefore the compulsory use of organc (quite often infected) plant potatoes can lead to serious infections.

In order to confirm positive results of previous two years by the application of off-farm compost in row field trials are planned at three sites to achieve similar responses at potatoes grown in different environments. Parameters to test are all symptoms of fungal infection during growth and harvest plus the effect on tuber yield. In addition technical solution sould be improved for the application of composts in row.

Publications

Bruns, C., Heß, J., Finckh, M.R., Hensel, O. und Schulte-Geldermann, E. (2009): Komposteinsatz gegen Rhizoctonia solani im ökologischen Kartoffelbau. Kartoffelbau 2009, 84-88.