Chile

Powdery scab situation

Potato powdery scab, caused by the plasmodial protozoan Spongospora subterranea, is an increasingly important disease in the main potato growing areas of Chile, especially in the southern zone. In Chile this disease was reported for the first time in 1936 in some potato producingsectors in the southern zone,
mainly associated with soils with poor drainageproblems and susceptible to flooding.
Today, it is a disease that is becoming increasingly important as it is occurring with high incidence and severity in several producing areas, due to some changes in the production systems of the crop that favor its expression, among these is the implementation of irrigation systems. Thus, in recent years, an increase
in powdery scab has been detected in the southern zone, occurring mainly in susceptible cultivars under irrigation, with yield losses of more than 30% and a decrease in quality. Given the above, chemical control has begun to be used for its control, but its efficiency is not greater than 30%, in addition, varietal resistance
to this problem is not always associated with the varieties required by the market. Therefore, to reduce this problem, its control should be based on an integrated approach according to productive risk factors.


Research

Considering this serious situation, work began on the project "Integrated system for the preventive control of powdery potato scabies (Spongospora subterranea) through water efficiency and early detection" executed by the Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA) with the support of the Foundation for
Agrarian Innovation (FIA), with the active participation of the public and private sectors. The project has made it possible to determine the incidence and distribution of powdery scab and its productive risk factors in the potato-producing area of the southern zone. In addition, this project focuses on:
To standardize optimized irrigation management in potato crops, using FAO 56 methodology assisted with satellite and meteorological information, humidity sensors and soil water and nutritional balance, to reduce the risk of powdery scab; To determine the control of this disease through an integrated
management package based on soil inoculum quantity determined by qPCR, seed quality and varietal resistance; and To validate a preventive management package for powdery scab control under productive conditions. Finally, work is underway to implement and update the potato crop health risk
platform (https://enfermedadespapa.inia.cl) and to transfer and disseminate the conceptual technology package to potato growers and advisors.

Yvette Acuña

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Last update: February, 2025