Abstract
Powdery scab of potato, caused by the zoosporic pathogen Spongospora subterranea f.sp. subterranea (Sss), is an often underestimated disease, which has lead to lack of appropriate control strategies. A new wave of increasing importance of this disease has occurred in the last 30 years in many countries, among them France, Pakistan, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Costa Rica, USA, and, very recently, Colombia, Korea and China. A consequence is that occurrence of, and research on, powdery scab has shown a cyclic pattern. Additionally to its importance as a pathogen, Sss is a vector of potato mop top virus which itself can cause substantial damage. Factors such as intensification of potato production, increasing use of susceptible cultivars, more frequent irrigation and banning of mercury, previously used as an efficient seed tuber treatment, have all contributed to greater incidence of powdery scab. Since 1842, when Wallroth first described the disease in the scientific literature, many researchers, particularly before 1960, started to work with Sss, mostly because powdery scab became a problem in their respective countries. Today we know many aspects of the biology of the biotrophic protozoan organism that causes powdery scab, but we still lack basic knowledge on the etiology and epidemiology of the disease. We lack sufficient knowledge of the factors that affect survival of the resting structures, potato and alternative host infection and disease development. This knowledge is essential in predicting disease risk and developing effective powdery scab management strategies.
Resumen
La roña de la papa, causada por el patógeno zoosporico Spongospora subterránea f. sp. subterránea (Sss), es a menudo una enfermedad subestimada, lo cual ha llevado a la falta de estrategias apropiadas de control. Se ha desatado una ola de creciente interés por la enfermedad en los últimos 30 años en muchos países, entre ellos, Francia, Pakistán, Japón. Australia, Nueva Zelanda, Costa Rica, Estados Unidos y más recientemente, Colombia, Corea y China. Una consecuencia es el patrón cíclico en la incidencia de roña y la investigación sobre la enfermedad. Adicionalmente a su importancia como patógeno, el Sss es un vector del virus mop top de la papa, el cual por si mismo puede causar un daño importante. Factores tales como la intensificación de la producción de papa, el creciente uso de cultivares susceptibles, irrigación mas frecuente y la actual prohibición de mercurio previamente usado eficientemente para el tratamiento del tubérculo semilla, han contribuido a la incidencia mayor de roña. Desde 1842, cuando Wallroth describió por primera vez la enfermedad en la literatura científica, muchos investigadores, particularmente antes de 1960, comenzaron a trabajar en Sss, mayormente por que la roña se convirtió en un problema en sus respectivos países. Ahora conocemos muchos aspectos de la biología de este protozoario biotrófico que causa roña, pero todavía carecemos de los conocimientos básicos de la etiología y epidemiología de la enfermedad. No sabemos suficientemente de los factores que afectan la supervivencia de las estructuras de descanso, la infección del huésped alterno y el desarrollo de la enfermedad. Este conocimiento es esencial para predecir el riesgo de la enfermedad y para desarrollar estrategias efectivas para el manejo de la roña.
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Merz, U. Powdery Scab of Potato—Occurrence, Life Cycle and Epidemiology. Am. J. Pot Res 85, 241–246 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12230-008-9019-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12230-008-9019-1