Potato diseases

In Belarus, where potatoes are a staple food, two formidable fungal-like diseases—late blight (Phytophthora infestans, literally "plant destroyer") and early blight (Alternaria)—constantly threaten solanaceous crops like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants....

Effective August 1, 2026, China has implemented stringent new phytosanitary measures to prevent the introduction of Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (CLso), a quarantine bacterium linked to severe crop diseases including Zebra Chip...

A worrying outbreak of late blight (Phytophthora) has been detected in private household plots across the region—and this is particularly concerning because these small-scale farms supply over 65% of the...

According to the Omsk branch of the Rosselkhozcenter, potato fields in the region are facing a severe outbreak of phytophthora (late blight), a fungal disease that can destroy over 70%...

Persistent heavy rains in Tatarstan have taken a severe toll on gardeners' potato crops, leaving many plots in distress. In the "Pribrezhny" gardening community, summer residents report dark spots appearing...

The fight against the Colorado potato beetle in 2026 looks drastically different from a decade ago. Warmer winters, extended warm periods, and the beetle's growing resistance to chemicals have turned...

Researchers at the Institute of Agrobiotechnologies (Komi Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences) have been experimenting since 2021 with a novel method of treating seed potatoes using weak electromagnetic fields...

In Kenya, potatoes are the second most important food crop after maize, sustaining roughly 800,000 smallholder farmers and a vast value chain of transporters, seed producers, and street vendors in...

Specialists from the Rosselkhoznadzor Administration for the Oryol and Kursk Regions have conducted inspections of potato plantings in the Kursk Region. The monitoring took place in private farms within the...

In the highlands of East Africa, potatoes are a lifeline for millions of smallholder farmers—but late blight disease has long been their greatest enemy. This aggressive pathogen can destroy an...

Gardeners have discovered a simple, chemical-free way to combat the dreaded Colorado potato beetle, one of the most destructive pests for potato crops. According to the respected publication "My Beautiful...

 Marina Lazareva, a 10th-grade student at the Specialized Educational Scientific Center of Novosibirsk State University (SESC NSU), together with her scientific supervisors, has developed a test system that enables rapid...

Russia’s North-Western Interregional Directorate of Rosselkhoznadzor has prevented the import of a large shipment of Egyptian potatoes weighing 302 tons into St. Petersburg. During an inspection at the Big Sea...

Potato growers and industry representatives in Tasmania report that the mop-top virus is having very little impact on local agriculture. The virus was first detected on a Tasmanian farm in...

Many gardeners wonder whether tomatoes and potatoes can be grown side by side. The clear answer is no, due to serious phytosanitary risks. Both crops belong to the nightshade family...

In mid-April, inspectors from the Southern Interregional Directorate of Rosselkhoznadzor (Russia’s agricultural watchdog) inspected three shipments of potatoes with a total volume of 192.5 tons at the Novorossiysk sea checkpoint...

The recent announcement from the UK's Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) marks a rare and significant victory in global...

For agricultural professionals, cultivar selection is a foundational business and agronomic decision. While marketing descriptions promise ideal performance, true resilience is proven in the field under variable conditions. As noted...

As the North American potato industry navigates the heart of the 2025 storage season, a crucial educational intervention is on the horizon. Co-hosted by Spud Smart magazine and the North American Potato...

In a significant advancement for sustainable agriculture, researchers from Guizhou University have decoded how oligochitosan (COS), a biological plant immune inducer, activates defense mechanisms against Potato Virus Y (PVY). Their...

The government of Prince Edward Island (PEI) is taking a decisive and costly step in its long-running battle against potato wart, a quarantinable pest caused by the fungus Synchytrium endobioticum. With...

A Dual Crisis: Plummeting Potato Prices and the Looming Threat of the Reed Glassy-Winged Leafhopper The latest harvest season has left German potato farmers grappling with a dual challenge that...

A pioneering study published in BMC Genomics by researchers Whitehead, Karley, and Darby has shattered a critical assumption in pest management: that clonally reproducing potato aphids (Macrosiphum euphorbiae) are genetically uniform. Using...

We all know heat and hail damage potatoes, but when these stresses occur may be more important than their intensity. This is the key finding from ongoing research by Jonathan Neilson at...

For potato growers and agronomists in Eastern Idaho, the 2025 growing season is presenting a significant challenge. Researchers with the University of Idaho Extension have documented that aphid pressure is...

The regulatory landscape for nematicides has shifted dramatically, placing potato growers in a tight spot. The EU ban on aldicarb and severe restrictions on metham sodium and 1,3-dichloropropene, coupled with...

On the surface, the 2025 season looks like a resounding success for Russian agriculture. The Russian Potato Union forecasts a harvest of nearly 7.5 to 8 million tons, a significant...

The incurable Potato mop-top virus (PMTV) has expanded its reach to southern Tasmania, prompting officials to abandon eradication efforts. This pivotal decision forces the industry, which supplies 70% of Australia's...

A previously exotic virus has forced the destruction of nearly 2,000 tonnes of seed potato in Tasmania, a drastic containment measure that underscores the relentless and costly challenge of agricultural...

In the heart of Russia's Ural Mountains, where a short growing season and fungal pressures define agricultural life, farmers are demonstrating how modern science and meticulous management can secure a...

The appearance of dark spots on potato foliage is more than an aesthetic issue—it's a critical distress signal indicating chemical damage, fungal invasion, or bacterial infection that can devastate yields...

A landmark German research initiative is undertaking the most comprehensive genetic analysis of potato cultivars ever attempted, aiming to unlock hidden traits for yield, resilience, and sustainability by sequencing a...

Agricultural communities in Russia's Biysk region are facing a perfect storm of challenges as persistent rainfall and unseasonably cool temperatures have created ideal conditions for fungal diseases that are rotting...

Potato growers on Prince Edward Island are demonstrating unprecedented vigilance against aphid threats, with participation in the provincial aphid surveillance program nearly doubling this season. This increased commitment to monitoring...

Potato growers and agricultural professionals across Europe are facing an emerging challenge as phytoplasma infections, particularly those caused by Candidatus Phytoplasma solani (the agent responsible for Stolbur disease), are being detected in...

Potato viral diseases remain one of the most significant constraints to global potato production, causing estimated yield losses of 15-30% annually 6. Traditional virus detection methods often require laboratory infrastructure, trained...

In a significant move to bolster regional agriculture, the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna has announced two new subsidy programs with a combined fund of €1.2 million. The measures, which opened for...

Recent downpours in Tyumen have delivered half the region’s monthly average rainfall in just weeks, jeopardizing early potato crops. Ivan Simishchenko, an agronomist at Krimm Agrofarm, warns that waterlogged fields could lead to...

Potato (Solanum tuberosum) has become a major cash crop in Bihar, offering farmers a lucrative income source due to:✔ Favorable climate: Cool, dry winters ideal for potato growth✔ Soil suitability: Well-drained loamy soils with pH...

For years, farmers debated whether removing potato foliage before harvest was necessary. However, agronomic research and field experience now confirm its importance. Ksenia Davydova, an agronomist with 20 years of experience,...

A growing body of research suggests that dietary copper, found in common vegetables like potatoes and patissons, may play a crucial role in maintaining brain health and reducing the risk...

German farmers are raising alarms over devastating harvest losses caused by stolbur disease, a phytoplasma infection transmitted by the reed planthopper (Pentastiridius leporinus). The pathogen, Candidatus Phytoplasma solani, attacks solanaceous crops—primarily potatoes and...

Wireworms thrive in poorly managed agricultural systems. One major reason for their proliferation is crop rotation neglect. Repeatedly planting susceptible crops like potatoes, carrots, or beets in the same field leads...

In 2024, Spain’s potato production saw a 0.6% increase, reinforcing its stability in the agricultural sector (Eurostat, 2024). Meanwhile, processed tomato exports surged by 22% in 2023, solidifying Spain’s position as a...

The Government of Prince Edward Island (PEI) has launched the PEI Index Field Buy-Back Program, a strategic initiative to purchase farmland affected by potato wart (Synchytrium endobioticum). This soil-borne fungal disease...

Potato late blight (Phytophthora infestans) is notorious for causing the Irish Potato Famine in the 1840s, yet it continues to destroy crops today. In Kenya, where potatoes are the second...

Potato late blight (Phytophthora infestans) remains one of the most destructive diseases in agriculture, causing significant yield losses worldwide. Recently, a new strain, 43_A1, has been detected in Europe, showing resistance...

Farmers and agronomists in Russia’s Kurgan region are making progress in the fight against the golden potato nematode (Globodera rostochiensis), a destructive pest that threatens potato yields. Recent data shows...

Powdery scab is a soil-borne disease that thrives in cool, moist conditions, causing unsightly lesions on potato tubers and galls on roots. Unlike other pathogens, Spongospora subterranea can survive in soil for...

Potato farming faces significant challenges due to bacterial wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum), a devastating disease that causes severe yield losses worldwide. In Indonesia alone, bacterial wilt can reduce potato yields by 30-70%,...