Question: Why are the inside of my tubers brown and soft?

Answer: Discolouration of the internal tuber tissue is most often a disorder caused by environmental conditions. They have descriptive names such as Blackheart, Internal heat necrosis. Hollow heart, Blackspot and Net necrosis.

Some of these conditions do look similar to symptoms caused by diseases. Moreover, opportunistic microbial infections causing secondary rots in affected tubers can mask the primary cause. This means it is important to review all the field environmental conditions and clinical signs of diseases for an accurate diagnosis.

In Issue 04 of PotatoLink magazine, the Spud GP provides a list of some of the common conditions that illustrate similarities between some tuber physiological disorders and diseases.

Contact the spud GP with your queries by emailing info@potatolink.com.au