Helping potatoes help themselves: inducing plant defences

Just like us, plants have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to defend themselves against pests and pathogens. One of the most intriguing strategies is 'Induced Systemic Resistance' (ISR). Specific microbes or environmental triggers can activate the plant defences, improving its ability to ward off attack or cope with stress. And we can help that happen. Read the full article in Issue 13 of PotatoLink magazine.

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Magazine Articles, Diseases, Bacterial, Fungal Sophia Thach Magazine Articles, Diseases, Bacterial, Fungal Sophia Thach

Storage diseases

When the potatoes have been harvested, graded and put into storage a great weight has been lifted. The spuds aren’t going to be stuck in the ground due to late season rain. Grubs and bugs aren’t going to start affecting the tubers, and it looks like most of the disease issues have been avoided. They’re safe. Except there is another consideration, and that is storage diseases, discussed in this PotatoLink magazine article.

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Factsheets, Bacterial Ryan Hall Factsheets, Bacterial Ryan Hall

Managing Blackleg in potato

Blackleg on potato can be caused by either Pectobacterium or Dickeya species, and they often work together in different combinations to cause this disease. Blackleg can result in stem decay, severe seed decay and sometimes lack of plant emergence in severe cases. This Hort Innovation and RM Consulting Group (RMCG) factsheet provides information on managing blackleg in potato crops.

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Enhanced detection of potato cyst nematode and bacterial wilt to improve market access for the Australia and New Zealand Potato Industries

This 2004 report goes into the detection of potato cyst nematodes (Globodera rostochiensis) through DNA analysis. It also delves into different diagnostic tools that can be used to determine the presence of bacterial wilt (brown rot caused by Ralstonia solanacearum).

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