Monitoring key soil-borne diseases of fresh potato in WA

A one-year study investigated how pre-planting soil DNA levels relate to the severitu of powdery scab, black dot, and common scab in Western Australia’s potato crops.

Using qPCR testing, researchers explored whether soil inoculum levels can reliably predict disease risk and how factors like weather, cultivar, and seed quality influence outcomes. The findings highlight both the value and the limits of soil testing in managing tuber quality and yield, and is available to read in Issue 16 of PotatoLink magazine.

Common scab symptoms on potato tubers.