Powdery scab is an economically important disease of potato crops in Australia and New Zealand, and around the world. This is because the lesions on tubers diminish quality and marketability of seed, fresh market, and processing potatoes.

A three-year project focusing on powdery scab and its pathogen, Spongospora subterranea, has recently been completed in New Zealand.

The research project was instigated with goals to determine if different field soils had different powdery scab suppressive capabilities, and to identify factors involved in disease suppression.

In this article, Professor Richard Falloon from the New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited reports on the outcomes of Exploring Spongospora suppressive soils in potato production, a strategic levy investment under the Hort Innovation Fresh Potato and Potato Processing Funds.

Guide: Managing the risks of powdery scab in potatoes

Powdery scab can cause major losses of marketable yield from fresh market potato crops, and substantial rejections in processing for French fries or crisp production. Tubers with powdery scab lesions are also susceptible to other diseases.

Click here to download the new managing the risks of powdery scab in potato guide.

The guide is based on current knowledge on management of powdery scab, highlighting key factors that affect the risks of this disease and opportunities for effective disease management. It has been published on the AUSVEG website.

The guide has been developed by RM Consulting Group (RMCG), coordinators of Program approach for pest and disease potato industry investments (PT17002). This project is a strategic levy investment under the Hort Innovation Potato – Fresh and Potato – Processing Funds. It has been funded using the fresh and processing potato research and development levies and contributions from the Australian Government.