The potato tuberworm, Phthorimaea operculella, is a pest of many solanaceous crops, including potatoes. Commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions throughout the world, potato tuberworm (PTW) is one of the most important constraints to potato production worldwide. Larvae of this species mine leaves, stems, and petioles and excavate tunnels...
Describes the symptoms and damage caused by silver scurf, a fungal disease of potatoes. Includes color photos of symptoms. Discusses sources of inoculum and the disease life cycle. Suggests management practices (seed selection, crop rotation, seed treatments, management of die-down, sanitation, harvest, and storage) to minimize disease problems.
Silver scurf is caused by a fungus, Helminthosporium solani, a relatively new problem related to potato production in North America. It wasn’t until the early 1990s that this fungus was identified as being a serious problem in the Pacific Northwest. This fungus produces a surface blemish on tubers, causing them...