PEI Potato Day 2017
Dickeya is the name of a group of bacteria. Various Dickeya species cause different plant diseases.
Two species of Dickeya cause blackleg in potato.
Dickeya blackleg is a more aggressive disease than blackleg caused by Pectobacterium
atrosepticum.
One of the blackleg-causing Dickeya species now occurs in Maine, and has been spread to other states.
Blackleg is a potato disease with characteristic symptoms
seed-piece decay black-pigmented soft rot of stems soft rot of tubers
Blackleg is caused by several bacteria:
. Pectobacterium atrosepticum
. Pectobacterium brasiliense . Pectobacterium parmentieri (formerly wasabiae)
. Dickeya dianthicola
. Dickeya solani
- ATROSEPTICUM BLACKLEG
- DICKEYA BLACKLEG
Usual cause of blackleg in
Canada – in the past and currently
Recently introduced into the
United States, probably from Europe
- Favours lower temperatures
- Favours higher temperatures
Symptoms: almost always clearly evident and visible on stems
Symptoms: sometimes restricted to internal pith tissue of the stem
- Causes limited yield loss
- May cause serious disease loss
- ATROSEPTICUM
- DICKEYA
Blackleg develops from bacteria that move from the seed tuber into the vascular tissue of the stem.
These bacteria grow and multiple and produce soft-rotting enzymes.
Drawing from Potato Health Management. R.C. Rowe, ed. APS Press
Blackleg Disease Cycle
The Seed Potato
. They may look healthy and well BUT blackleg bacteria may be present in lenticels or stolon end vascular tissue
During the growing season — from bacteria that spread from decaying seed pieces
AND
During harvesting, bin piling, sorting, etc. — whenever tubers come in contact with contaminated surfaces
Clean seed
▪ High generation seed (fewer field generations) ▪ Know your seed source ▪ Good grower practices (your own and seed supplier) ▪ Laboratory tests (if unsure)
Sanitation
▪ Bacteria are readily spread on equipment ▪ Blackleg bacteria are sensitive to common disinfectants ▪ Keep equipment clean ▪ Disinfect equipment between lots ▪ Clean up culls
Roguing – yes, BUT be careful not to spread blackleg bacteria from infected plant.
Survival in soil and water – yes, but for a limited time only (Dickeya probably a little
more than P . a trosepticum).
Spread by insects – theoretically yes, but not shown to be important.
1. Remain vigilant 2. Maintain good practices: clean seed & sanitation 3. If blackleg increases – get it lab tested
(so you know what you are dealing with)