Detection and eradication of <i>Spongospora subterranea</i> in mini-tuber production tunnels

Powdery scab, a root and tuber disease caused by the pathogen Spongospora subterranea f.sp. subterranea (Sss), poses a major problem to potato producers worldwide because it affects potato quality. Inoculum can be seed-borne or originate from contaminated growing media or contaminated equipment. Dur...

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Main Authors: Jessica Wright, Alison Lees, Jacquie van der Waals
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Academy of Science of South Africa 2012-05-01
Series:South African Journal of Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/9853
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spelling doaj-737290d8daba42ffa722e7719d67f9e92021-02-27T06:03:46ZengAcademy of Science of South AfricaSouth African Journal of Science1996-74892012-05-011085/6Detection and eradication of <i>Spongospora subterranea</i> in mini-tuber production tunnelsJessica Wright0Alison Lees1Jacquie van der Waals2Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of PretoriaThe James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, DundeeDepartment of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of PretoriaPowdery scab, a root and tuber disease caused by the pathogen Spongospora subterranea f.sp. subterranea (Sss), poses a major problem to potato producers worldwide because it affects potato quality. Inoculum can be seed-borne or originate from contaminated growing media or contaminated equipment. During 2006, a potato mini-tuber production facility in Ceres in the Western Cape Province of South Africa had an outbreak of powdery scab. The purpose of this study was to detect Sss in the production facility and identify the source or sources of contamination so that corrective measures could be taken to eradicate the pathogen. Swab samples were taken from numerous points in the facility in 2009 and Sss-specific primers (Sps1 and Sps2) were used in a polymerase chain reaction to detect Sss. Of 11 surfaces tested, 6 were positive for Sss. A second set of swab samples was taken after efforts were made to eradicate the pathogen through improved facility hygiene measures to determine whether these corrective measures were efficient. Corrective measures resulted in a disease-free harvest from 2009 onwards. This novel study has value for the mini-tuber industry as production tunnels can be tested for the presence of Sss and other pathogens before planting to ensure that, where suitable control measures are available, disease-free mini-tubers are produced.https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/9853powdery scabseed productionpotato diseasesG0 tubersobligate parasite
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Jessica Wright
Alison Lees
Jacquie van der Waals
spellingShingle Jessica Wright
Alison Lees
Jacquie van der Waals
Detection and eradication of <i>Spongospora subterranea</i> in mini-tuber production tunnels
South African Journal of Science
powdery scab
seed production
potato diseases
G0 tubers
obligate parasite
author_facet Jessica Wright
Alison Lees
Jacquie van der Waals
author_sort Jessica Wright
title Detection and eradication of <i>Spongospora subterranea</i> in mini-tuber production tunnels
title_short Detection and eradication of <i>Spongospora subterranea</i> in mini-tuber production tunnels
title_full Detection and eradication of <i>Spongospora subterranea</i> in mini-tuber production tunnels
title_fullStr Detection and eradication of <i>Spongospora subterranea</i> in mini-tuber production tunnels
title_full_unstemmed Detection and eradication of <i>Spongospora subterranea</i> in mini-tuber production tunnels
title_sort detection and eradication of <i>spongospora subterranea</i> in mini-tuber production tunnels
publisher Academy of Science of South Africa
series South African Journal of Science
issn 1996-7489
publishDate 2012-05-01
description Powdery scab, a root and tuber disease caused by the pathogen Spongospora subterranea f.sp. subterranea (Sss), poses a major problem to potato producers worldwide because it affects potato quality. Inoculum can be seed-borne or originate from contaminated growing media or contaminated equipment. During 2006, a potato mini-tuber production facility in Ceres in the Western Cape Province of South Africa had an outbreak of powdery scab. The purpose of this study was to detect Sss in the production facility and identify the source or sources of contamination so that corrective measures could be taken to eradicate the pathogen. Swab samples were taken from numerous points in the facility in 2009 and Sss-specific primers (Sps1 and Sps2) were used in a polymerase chain reaction to detect Sss. Of 11 surfaces tested, 6 were positive for Sss. A second set of swab samples was taken after efforts were made to eradicate the pathogen through improved facility hygiene measures to determine whether these corrective measures were efficient. Corrective measures resulted in a disease-free harvest from 2009 onwards. This novel study has value for the mini-tuber industry as production tunnels can be tested for the presence of Sss and other pathogens before planting to ensure that, where suitable control measures are available, disease-free mini-tubers are produced.
topic powdery scab
seed production
potato diseases
G0 tubers
obligate parasite
url https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/9853
work_keys_str_mv AT jessicawright detectionanderadicationofispongosporasubterraneaiinminituberproductiontunnels
AT alisonlees detectionanderadicationofispongosporasubterraneaiinminituberproductiontunnels
AT jacquievanderwaals detectionanderadicationofispongosporasubterraneaiinminituberproductiontunnels
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