North American potato producers are dealing with a new disease.
Potato blackleg was discussed last week at Manitoba Potato Production Days in Brandon.
Dr. Amy Charkowski, Professor and Head of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management at Colorado State University, says this new disease could have a significant impact on the industry.
"The bacteria that causes the disease can spread on the seed potatoes that the farmers plant and it can either cause the seed potato to rot in the ground before the plant emerges or it will kill the base of the stem of the emerging plant and that causes the whole plant to die...There's no cure for it.
The disease has caused significant losses in the eastern and central United States, but Charkowski notes there have been only a few positive samples found in Canada and no significant losses have been reported.
Source : Portageonline