Powdery scab situation
Powdery scab mainly occurs in Victoria. The problems caused
by the disease increased in the 80's as they began to wash the consumer potatoes and the
symptoms became more appearant. Recommandations to the farmers to interrupt
irrigation during the period of tuber initiation seemed to have managed the
disease. Recently it has turned out that powdery scab is still a major problem
for the potato industry.
More stringent seed certification and a DNA based soil test helped to improve the disease situation.
Research
The research group under the supervision of Calum Wilson at the University of Tasmania is very activ and has published many papers in the last years on biology of Spongospora, host-pathogen relationship or genetics.
New research will focus on
Pre-plant inoculum management - pre-mature stimulation of resting spore germination (Germinate-to-Exterminate), and role of alternative hosts
and volunteer potatoes in inoculum maintenance
In Crop Management
– efficacy of biological agents and non-fungicidal soil treatments to
prevent infection, plant defence stimulants, and conventional
fungicides (and how these can be used in an integrated manner to
improve disease management).
The group would be very happy to hear from other groups interested in collaboration.
Contact address:
Calum Wilson
University of Tasmania
Hobart
Australia
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Last update: July, 2025