Potato growers in Bangladesh are looking for ways to help their potato plantations afflicted with the deadly potato disease - fire blight. The outbreak of bacterial disease was caused by prolonged fog and lack of sufficient sunlight.
Potato plants infected with fire blight usually die off very quickly. The growers told the Daily Star that they are practically powerless to help the potato plantations. Despite the use of fungicidal preparations, as recommended by the specialists of the Ministry of Agriculture of the country, no positive results were obtained.
The farmer, whose plot is located near the village of Kalupara, said that he applied fungicides five times, moreover, the first immediately noticed the first plant infections. However, his efforts were in vain and 60% of the potato plants died. In the hope of saving at least some crop, farmers spend significant funds, but the plants continue to die. Now in the affected area is 2500 hectares of potatoes.
Expert opinion
An expert A.V. Zelov commented on the situation: “A bacterial burn of potatoes is a quarantine disease that does not occur in Russia, since it is a disease of hot and humid regions. Why doesn't Bangladesh's potato growers benefit from fungicidal drugs? Firstly, because the pathogen is not a fungus, but a bacterium, in Bangladesh, bacteria multiply faster than bactericides work: antibiotics, copper sulfate, potassium permanganate, etc. Under their conditions, only crop rotation and pathogen-free seeds are effective. Farmers from Bangladesh can only sympathize - a bacterial burn of potatoes is indeed a very harmful disease. That's why it is very important that quarantine measures are clearly implemented when importing tubers to Russia! ”
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