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Title: Potato common scab: a review of the causal pathogens, management practices, varietal resistance screening methods, and host resistance

Author
item BRAUN, SARAH - Monsanto Corporation
item GEVENS, AMANDA - University Of Wisconsin
item CHARKOWSKI, AMY - University Of Wisconsin
item ALLEN, CHRISTINA - University Of Wisconsin
item Jansky, Shelley

Submitted to: American Journal of Potato Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/16/2017
Publication Date: 3/24/2017
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/5769491
Citation: Braun, S., Gevens, A., Charkowski, A., Allen, C., Jansky, S. 2017. Potato common scab: a review of the causal pathogens, management practices, varietal resistance screening methods, and host resistance. American Journal of Potato Research. 94(4):283-296. doi: 10.1007/s12230-017-9575-3.

Interpretive Summary: Common scab is a disease that causes blemishes on potatoes, reducing marketable yield. This review article discusses the host pathogen interaction and the effects of the production environment on disease development. It also discusses control strategies, including production practices and the development of cultivars with resistance to the causal agent, pathogenic strains of Streptomyces bacteria.

Technical Abstract: Potato common scab is a widespread disease in which scab-like lesions develop on tubers. The disease is caused by pathogenic Streptomyces species, which synthesize the phytotoxin thaxtomin. The txtAB operon, responsible for thaxtomin production, can be used as a marker to identify strains of the bacterium that are pathogenic. Screening methods to assess scab susceptibility in breeding programs are time-consuming and can produce variable results. Management practices to control for the disease vary and include application of the biocidal fumigant chloropicrin, monitoring soil pH, and avoiding low soil moisture at tuber initiation. There is a wide range in levels of tolerance among potato varieties. Many public research programs are committed to breeding for scab-tolerant varieties and evaluating management methods.