Abstract
Potato diseases are caused by an array of pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, phytoplasmas, and fungi. Disease can occur at any stage of potato development, from seed diseases before planting, to foliar and tuber diseases during the growing season, to storage diseases that cause rots and/or reductions in tuber quality. Some diseases are foliar only, some only attack tubers, and others can attack both. Similarly, some diseases are only found in the field, some are only seen in storage, while others occur in both locations. The fact that potatoes are vegetative propagated dictates that special emphasis be placed on seedborne diseases. A general overview of each of the important potato diseases is presented in this chapter, followed by symptom descriptions, images, economic importance, and management guidelines.
Microorganisms cause all diseases discussed in this chapter. Many plant pathologists consider physiological disorders, such as hollow heart, to be diseases, but these disorders are caused by adverse environment, nutrient imbalances, or other noninfectious factors and are discussed in Chap. 10.1007/978-3-030-39157-7_14.