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STUDY ON PLANT PATHOGENIC FUNGAL DISEASES AFFECTING SOLANUM TUBEROSUM (POTATOES) IN THE REGION OF DEHGAM (CENTRAL GUJARAT)
V. N. Patel, T. H. Patel and S. C. Parikh1
Dept. of Microbiology, Smt.S.S.Patel Nootan Sci. & Comm. College, Visnagar, Gujarat, India
1

P.G.Centre in Microbiology, Smt.S.M.Panchal Science College, Talod, Gujarat, India Email: vnp_sci@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT: A brief study on the plant pathogens affecting the potatoes was made in order to ascertain the level of preservation and effective measures taken by cold storages for maintaining the potatoes during their shelf life. Various samples were taken to screen for the presence of a specific disease in the crop of potatoes during, after & before preservation. Eight villages nearby Dehgam were selected for testing plant pathogenic activities in their potatoes. Diseased samples were analyzed for the occurrence of fungal infections. The infections were identified on the basis of symptoms & were classified relevant to the different seasons of their emergence. Key words: Plant Pathogens, Potatoes, Potato Scab Disease, Phytopathogenic fungi, dry rot, late blight INTRODUCTION: In the recent years, the production of potatoes is increased dramatically in Gujarat (India). Especially after 1995, the production has quadrupled in the region of Dehgam and nearby villages. The average production of potatoes in the year 1975 was 500,000 tons/annum as compared to 25, 00,000 tons/annum in the year 2007. Due to excessive cultivation, storage and consumption, this crop needs special attention for preservation from losses. However various microbial interactions are responsible for spoilage and losses resulting in decreased productivity of potatoes. Local cold storages in the nearby http://lifesciencesleaflets.ning.com/ Page | 47

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area can play a vital role for the preservation from losses caused by spoilage of potatoes. The present study was conducted in eight main villages nearby Dehgam in order to survey and identify the fungal pathogens affecting potatoes during last one year. Infections caused may belong to various body parts of potatoes and further may be caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses and others. We have mainly focussed on fungal diseases occurring in potatoes in this study. Potatoes being rich in biological polysaccharides such as starch and some other sugars, serve as a natural media for the cultivation of some of the well-known phytopathogens. Every year several tons of potatoes are thrown away due to inherent spoilage caused during their storage and preservation in some of the well-known cold storages in the nearby area such as Rakhial, Sampa, Palaiya, Vahelal, Dehgam, Babalpura, Ahmedpura and Zak. MATERIALS and METHOD: Eight field trips were made to survey potato fungal infections in the eight potato producing regions of Central Gujarat i.e. Rakhial, Sampa, Palaiya, Vahelal, Dehgam, Babalpura, Ahmedpura, Zak. Two trips were made each season. The first trip was made 10-12 days before potato harvesting. The second trip was made prior to the harvesting and storage in the cold storages. A sample of potato is collected from the cold storage and also from the out side of the cold storage (near the cold storage), and labelled it and placed it in the polyethylene bags for maintaining samples until completion of the survey mission. The surfaces of infected potatoes were rinsed with sterile water, and then infected portions were streaked/ spreaded on the Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA), Rose Bengal Agar (RBA) and Nutrient Agar (NA). The plates were incubated in the dark at 25-28 oC and examined periodically for identification of the isolated fungi. Upon Cultivation of plant pathogenic fungi using the aforesaid microbiological media, the organisms were further identified on the basis of their morphological & other studies. RESULTS and DISCUSSION: http://lifesciencesleaflets.ning.com/ Page | 48

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Out of 100 samples analyzed for plant pathogenic activities, 39 were unidentified, 15 samples were having late blight disease of potatoes caused by Phytophthora sp., 29 samples were known to have stem canker & black scurf caused by Rhizoctonia sp., and 17 samples of potatoes were suffering from dry rot caused by Fusarium sp. Table-1: Diversity of Fungal Phytopathogens and their geographical analysis
Ahmedpura Babalpura Dehgam Rakhial Vahelal

Palaiya

Sampa

Area/ Type of Disease & Pathogen Total samples taken for analysis Unidentified Dry rot (by Fusarium sp .) Stem canker & Black scurf (by Rhizoctonia sp.) Late blight (by Phytophthora sp .)

18 07 02 06 03

15 04 04 05 02

11 05 01 04 01

05 01 01 01 02

17 07 03 04 03

15 08 03 03 01

12 04 02 05 01

07 03 01 01 02

100 39 17 29 15

However the causative agents mentioned here were not the only species found on cultivation media, but the higher colony forming units of these species comparative to other fungal species, and the symptomatology of the fungal disease in these potatoes helped us to designate them as the actual causative agents of the disease. (1)Late Blight of Potatoes:

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Total

Zak

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Water-soaked lesions appear on foliage that, within a few days, becomes necrotic, turning brown when dry or black when wet. Under damp conditions, white mildew like sporulation is visible, especially on the lower surface of leaves. A pale yellow margin often forms around leaf lesions. Lesions on stems and petioles are black or brown. Stem lesions are brittle and stems frequently break at the point of the lesion. Under certain conditions, wilting can occur on stems with lesions. Disease is favored by temperatures between 10 and 25C, accompanied by heavy dew or rain. Tubers infected by spores washed by rain from the leaves and stems into the soil have brownish surface discoloration. Sections cut through tubers show brown, necrotic tissues not clearly differentiated from the healthy portions. Later secondary rot organisms develop in blighted tissue and rots spread in storage. (2) Stem Canker & Black Scurf Disease:

Lesions on sprout tips cause delayed emergence or failure to emerge. Slightly sunken brown cankers of variable size and shape affect stolons and stems at or below the soil line. Cankers may girdle stems and result in aerial tuber formation, plant wilt, and death. Girdled stolons may fail to produce tubers. Hard, dark brown or black sclerotia (fungus-resting bodies) of irregular size and shape form on the tuber surface. A white mycelial mat may develop on the stem base, but does little harm to the plant. (3) Dry Rot of Potatoes:

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Externally, tubers may have sunken or wrinkled areas and an occasional white or pink fungal growth. Internally, tubers develop a crumbly dry decay ranging from dark brown (chocolate colored) to black. In addition, cavities often develop in the rotted tissue that contains the white or pink fungal growth.

A moist rot may occur if tubers are invaded by a secondary infection with soft rot bacteria.

Unidentified Late blight Stem canker & black scurf Dry rot

Fig.-1 : Pie Chart indicating the occurrence & distribution of fungal diseases in potatoes http://lifesciencesleaflets.ning.com/ Page | 51

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The above pie chart indicates the occurrence & distribution of various fungal pathogens affecting the potatoes in the region of Dehgam (Central Gujarat, India). Among the diseased specimens Stem Canker and Black Scurf dominates over the dry rot and late blight disease of the crop variety. However, a major part of the samples are remaining undetectable as they are infected by mixed/ unknown type of infections (other than fungal infections).

Fig.2: Occurrence & Distribution of various fungal diseases in the areas selected for study. CONCLUSION: From this comprehensive study on phytopathogens of potatoes, it can be concluded that most of the pathogens invade the host while moist & humid conditions are present during their storage. The fungal pathogens that cause productivity loss to the crop of potatoes are mostly the inherent soil microflora but under special circumstances they cause a variety of diseases such as dry rot, stem canker, black scurf & late blight of http://lifesciencesleaflets.ning.com/ Page | 52

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potatoes. Preventive measures that can be suggested are proper aeration, humidity control & application of antifungal agents as a spray in the preservation area during their shelf life.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: We acknowledge the kind support and guidance provided by various cold storage owners and local farmers of the affected crop variety of the region. We are really thankful to the people of the selected areas for helping us to collect the specimens and providing us useful information regarding the local terminology and outcome of specific potato diseases affecting its productivity.

REFERENCES: Suleiman M. Al-Kherb, Zaidan M. Abul-Hayja and Ibrahim Al-Shahwan(1996), Potato Fungal Diseases in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, J. King Saud. Univ., Vol-8, Agri. Sci.(1) 147,156 Row, C. (1986) Managing Potato Production for Optimal Plant Health Plant Disease, 70, 354-356. Webster, J. (1980), Introduction to Fungi, 2nd (Ed.). Cambridge, UK, Cambridge University Press ,669 Tuite, J.C. (1969) Plant Pathological Methods, Minneapolis, Burgess Publishing Co., Rich, A.E. Potato Diseases, NewYork: Academic Press,(1983) Managing Late Blight on Irrigated Potatoes in the Pacific Northwest,( 2003). PNW 555Available Online at (http://www.info.ag.uidaho.edu/pdf/pnw/pnw0555.pdf )

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