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Dry Rot in Potatoes Cause Identification Prevention Control of Potato Dry Rot

Potato dry rot is, thankfully, a fairly rare problem. The skin of the tuber becomes wrinkled and discoloured at one end. This becomes more pronounced and concentric rings of discoloured wrinkles develop.

Potato with Scab & Dry Rot

Potato with Scab & Dry Rot at the end

Potato Dry Rot Close Up

Potato Dry Rot Close Up

The flesh under the affected area discolours, becoming grey to black or dark brown.

Eventually pustules develop on the affected skin, these can be white, pink or greenish in colour.

The pustules contain spores which on release go to infect other potatoes.

Cause of Potato Dry Rot

The dry rot is caused by fungi of the Fusarium family, either Fusarium coeruleum or Fusarium sulphureum, which are found in the ground.

It tends to trouble potatoes in the ground or in store, entering through the lenticels (breathing pores) in the skin or abrasions and damage either caused by poor handling when lifting or by pests (such as worms and slugs) or by scab infection.

The photo shows a scabbed potato with dry rot at the end.

How to Prevent & Control Potato Dry Rot

Apart from taking care when lifting and removing any infected tubers from store as soon as discovered and controlling other problems such as scab or eelworm, there is nothing else to be done. As I said above, it is a rare problem.

Susceptible varieties to avoid growing if potato dry
rot is a problem on your site:

  • Almera
  • Arizona
  • Arran Comet
  • Arran Pilot
  • Arrow
  • Axona
  • Blue Belle
  • Blue Danube
  • Bounty
  • Bremner
  • Brooke
  • Cabaret
  • Cara
  • Casablanca
  • Chaski
  • Chincha
  • Chopin
  • Clevna
  • Compass
  • Daisy
  • Divaa
  • Electra
  • Ellie
  • Emma
  • Estima
  • Gemson
  • Gervioline
  • Harmony
  • Inca Bella
  • Isle Of Jura
  • Jelly
  • Jester
  • Kifli
  • Lady Balfour
  • Lady Christl
  • Lanorma
  • Linton
  • Lionheart
  • Lulu
  • Madingley
  • Maris Piper
  • Mayan Gold
  • Mayan Queen
  • Mayan Star
  • Mayan Twilight
  • Milton
  • Mistay
  • Mozart
  • Mustang
  • Nadine
  • Nectar
  • Newton
  • Nicola
  • Orchestra
  • Panther
  • Paru
  • Pentland Javelin
  • Pentland Squire
  • Pioneer
  • Rudolph
  • Sarpo Una
  • Sharpe’s Express
  • Ulster Chieftain
  • Ulster Prince
  • Vales Emerald
  • Vales Everest
  • Virgo

Potato varieties with good resistance to dry rot:

  • Amora
  • Ambassador
  • Apache
  • Asterix
  • Bute
  • Challenger
  • Chicago
  • Emblem
  • Fianna
  • Gabriel
  • Gatsby
  • Golden Nugget
  • Golden Wonder
  • Home Guard
  • Inca Bella
  • Infinity
  • Jelly
  • Joshua
  • La Strada
  • Lady Jo
  • Marfona
  • Markies
  • Marvel
  • Melody
  • Pentland Ivory
  • Pink Gypsy
  • Ramos
  • Red Emmalie
  • Red Robin
  • Romano
  • Royal
  • Rubesse
  • Safiyah
  • Sante
  • Saxon
  • Setanta
  • Sunset
  • Sylvana
  • Taurus
  • Trixie
  • Victoria
  • Violetta
  • Wilja
  • Wizard

Potato Growing Articles

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