Three especially dangerous strains of the phytopathogenic fungus black scab (Rhizoctonia solani), which are not susceptible to a common fungicide and can survive at high temperatures, Russian scientists from RUDN University discovered. This was reported on January 19 on the AgroPages online platform with reference to material in the Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection.
Rhizoctonia (black scab) is one of the most common and harmful potato diseases. It infects tubers, stems and roots of potatoes. The fungus can survive in the soil on plant debris.
There are no varieties resistant to Rhizoctonia solani, black scab is prevented and treated only by pre-planting treatment of seed tubers with fungicides. The most common of these are thiabendazole, benzoic acid, and fludioxonil. A total of 53 strains were studied in the study.
“The study showed the presence of extremely dangerous isolates of R. solani, resistant to fungicides and capable of growing at high temperatures, and at the same time aggressive towards potatoes,” said Sergey Elansky, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor at the Department of Agricultural Biotechnology at RUDN University. He emphasized that in order to prevent mass plant diseases and reduce crop losses, it is necessary to constantly monitor the emergence of dangerous strains of phytopathogenic fungi in the fields of Russian regions.