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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Bioenergy Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #373718
Research Project: Biochemical Technologies to Enable the Commercial Production of Biofuels from Lignocellulosic Biomass

Location: Bioenergy Research

Title: Postharvest control of fusarium dry rot using biological control and chemical combinations

Author
item Slininger, Patricia - Pat
item OLSEN, NORA - University Of Idaho
item MILLER, JEFF - Miller Research, Inc
item Schisler, David
item WOODELL, LYNN - University Of Idaho
item HOLLINGSHEAD, ANDREW - University Of Idaho
item Shea Andersh, Maureen
item SCHOEPKE, ANDREW - Oak Ridge Institute For Science And Education (ORISE)
item Dien, Bruce

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/20/2020
Publication Date: 7/22/2020
Citation: Slininger, P.J., Olsen, N.L., Miller, J.S., Schisler, D.A., Woodell, L.K., Hollingshead, A.K., Shea Andersh, M.A., Schoepke, A.R., Dien, B.S. 2020. Postharvest control of fusarium dry rot using biological control and chemical combinations. IN: Proceedings of 104th Annual Meeting of the Potato Association of America, July 20-22, Missoula Montana(Virtual). et al. 2020.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Postharvest Fusarium dry rot of potatoes is a serious problem worldwide. Stadium TM (difenoconazole, azoxystrobin and fludioxonil) and Graduate A+TM (azoxystrobin and fludioxonil) show promise in reducing dry rot, and desiccation tolerant variants of three biocontrol strains of Pseudomonas sp. have been developed to have improved storage stability in dry formulations. When produced in triculture, this biological control agent (BCA) suppresses Fusarium dry rot decay, late blight, pink rot, Pythium leak and sprouting in storage, and adds multiple control mechanisms to minimize risk of pathogen resistance. Experiments were designed to assess dry rot suppression by BCAs alone and in combination with Graduate or Stadium or 1/3 label Stadium applied to Clearwater Russet and Russet Burbank cultivars. In 24-72h laboratory assays the BCA rehydrated and survived well in mixture with the fungicides. In wounded potato assays, 10 tubers per treatment were inoculated with a conidial suspension of Fusarium sambucinum, then allowed to set covered 45 minutes, then wounded on opposite sides with a 2mm (length x diameter) blunt steel post and sprayed at 0.1 mL/oz tuber with fungicides or BCAs. Significant disease reduction (67-81%) was observed for BCA alone (grown on either synthetic or lower cost switchgrass hydrolysate, respectively). A lower disease reduction (49%) was observed, when the BCA was applied double strength at half volume (0.05 mL/oz tuber). Near complete disease prevention (91-95%) occurred when the BCA was used in combination with Stadium, 1/3 label Stadium, and Graduate, and with chemicals used alone (94-97%). Disease control did not vary significantly among different chemical applications with or without BCA present, or whether applied at 0.05 or 0.1 mL/oz tuber. Additional bioefficacy data from a similar small pilot experiment (80 tubers per treatment) in progress will be presented and compared for consistence with performance of like treatments tested in a prior year.