Poster Presentation Science Protecting Plant Health 2017

Effect of potato variety on Verticillium infection of petioles and yield at harvest. A one year field evaluation (#143)

Tonya J Wiechel 1 , Veradina N Dharjono 2 , Nigel S Crump 3 , Paul W.J. Taylor 2
  1. AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Agriculture Victoria, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
  2. Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria , Australia
  3. ViCSPA, Toolangi, Victoria , Australia

Verticillium dahliae is a major and persistent soil pathogen known to cause verticillium wilt in potato (Solanum tuberosum). Host resistance is one of the most economical, environmental and efficient management practices for this disease. Little is known about the resistance of commercial Australian potato genotypes. In glasshouse variety screening trials using 5 x 104 spores/mL, varieties Denali showed moderate to high resistance and Catani and Desiree moderate resistance to infection by V. dahliae. The aim of this study was to evaluate 11 varieties (Atlantic, Catani, Coliban, Desiree, Kennebec, Nicola, Pike, Ranger Russet, Russet Burbank, Shepody and Trent) under field conditions with a natural infestation. The trial was conducted in a Koo Wee Rup soil with V. dahliae DNA of 36 pg/g soil. Three high health mini tubers were planted per plot with 25 cm spacing in November with 3 replicate plots for each variety. In January, 6 petioles per plot per variety were collected for V. dahliae isolation and in April, tubers were dug by hand and yield per plant determined. Variety did not significantly affect the percentage of petioles infected with V. dahliae and there was no significant effect on yield.  Catani which is considered moderately resistant produced consistent yield even with 50% petiole infection. Kennebec considered resistant with only 15% petiole infection did impact yield. Due to the small sample size in this study, we did not find a relation between varietal V. dahliae infection and yield.