Potato growers face increased demands for higher quality produce and tighter environmental standards. As such, they need to find ways of controlling diseases like black dot, caused by the fungus Colletotrichum coccodes, that are causing significant economic losses due to downgrading of blemished tubers and reductions in yield. The project outlines the results of the trials evaluating different soil sampling strategies for the detection and quantification of Colletotrichum coccodes on commercial sized fields, by using a DNA-based assay and evaluating several fungicides for the control of black dot. The techniques developed by SARDI for black dot DNA testing will be a major benefit to the potato industry and can be integrated with DNA tests for other soil-borne pathogens of potato to assist growers in decision making.