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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Crop Bioprotection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #237989
Title: Selection and Evaluation of Microbial Strains with Potential for Biologically Controlling Pink Rot of Potatoes Incited by Phytophthora erythroseptica

Author
item KOLTUKSUZ, TUGBA - Ege University
item Schisler, David
item Sloan, Jennifer
item Slininger, Patricia - Pat

Submitted to: American Phytopathological Society Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/5/2009
Publication Date: 8/1/2009
Citation: Koltuksuz, T.A., Schisler, D.A., Sloan, J.M., Slininger, P.J. 2009. Selection and Evaluation of Microbial Strains with Potential for Biologically Controlling Pink Rot of Potatoes Incited by Phytophthora erythroseptica. Phytopathology 99:S67.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Selection and evaluation of microbial strains with potential for biologically controlling pink rot of potatoes in storage. T.A.Koltuksuz1, D.A. Schisler2, J.M. Sloan2 and P.J. Slininger2 1Visiting Scientist, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research (NCAUR), USDA-ARS, Peoria, IL 61604 and Ege University, Science and Technology Center (EBILTEM), Izmir, Turkey and 2NCAUR, USDA-ARS, Peoria, IL Pink rot, incited by Phytophthora erythroseptica, is a field and post harvest disease of potatoes that, in recent years, has had a negative impact on potato growers in many regions of the world including North America. The ineffectiveness of many fungicides against pink rot due to the development of pathogen resistance justifies evaluating the development of biological control measures. In this study, the microbiota of 84 different agricultural soils was individually transferred to separate samples of gamma irradiation-sterilized field soil enriched with potato periderm. After microbial community proliferation in similar, enriched field soil environments, samples of each were assayed for biological suppressiveness to pink rot and zoospore production using tuber and soil extract assays. Zoospore production was reduced by 14% to 93% and disease severity on tubers was reduced by 6% to 21% by the most suppressive soils tested. Over 270 isolates of bacteria and yeast were recovered from the 13 most suppressive soil samples. The most promising candidate strains against pink rot in storage will be selected based on strain possession of both favorable liquid culture growth kinetics and disease suppressiveness when produced in commercially feasible liquid culture media. Results from these studies will clarify the importance of incorporating the liquid cultivation aspect of industrial practice into the strategy used to choose strains for commercial development.