Susceptibility of eight potato cultivars to tuber infection by Phytophthora erythroseptica and Pythium ultimum and its relationship to mefenoxam-mediated control of pink rot and leak

In addition to cultural practices, the application of the fungicide mefenoxam is an important disease management tactic used to control both pink rot and leak on potato tubers grown in the USA. Mefenoxam resistance has been identified in many of the potato growing regions, and therefore resistance management strategies are very important for retaining this fungicide as a tool to manage these storage rot diseases. The relationship between mefenoxam efficacy and cultivar susceptibility to pink rot and leak was assessed in post-harvest inoculation studies. Mefenoxam was applied to potato (Solanum tuberosum) cultivars known to express varying levels of susceptibility to pink rot and leak caused by Phytophthora erythroseptica and Pythium ultimum, respectfully. Tubers harvested from plants treated with in-furrow and foliar applications of mefenoxam were inoculated with isolates sensitive to the fungicide. Incidence and severity of both diseases ranged widely among cultivars. Russet Norkotah was the most susceptible to infection by P. erythroseptica, while cvs Pike and Atlantic were the most resistant. Cultivars Dark Red Norland, Russet Norkotah, Goldrush and Russet Burbank were most susceptible to infection by P. ultimum whereas Snowden was most resistant. Control of pink rot differed significantly among cultivars following mefenoxam treatment, ranging from 28% (cv. Goldrush) to 67% (cv. Snowden) and generally provided the greatest level of disease control on susceptible and moderately susceptible cultivars such as Russet Norkotah and Snowden, respectively. In contrast, the impact of mefenoxam on leak development was minimal and disease control did not differ significantly among the cultivars. The fungicide failed to control leak in the susceptible cvs Atlantic and Pike and control ranged from 1.7% to 5.2% in cvs Goldrush, Russet Norkotah, Dark Red Norland, Russet Burbank and Kennebec. The greatest level of leak control was achieved with the moderately resistant cv., Snowden, at 12.7%. Cultivars most likely to benefit from mefenoxam treatments should be targeted as part of a pink rot management programme. Judicious use of the fungicide, when matched with the level of cultivar susceptibility, may prove to be an efficient and effective approach to reduce infection rates and possibly manage mefenoxam resistance thereby maintaining longevity of the compound.