Potato: Powdery scab

Biology

Powdery scab is a fungal disease affecting potato roots and tubers. Tubers develop slightly raised, purplish or brown lesions or pustules on the skin. Initially, the lesions are closed and blisterlike. They later split open to reveal powdery, dark brown masses of spores surrounded by the torn edges of the ruptured skin. In storage, a dry rot may be associated with the lesions. Powdery scab lesions are small (less than 1⁄8″ in diameter) and nearly circular. These characteristics help distinguish them from common scab lesions. The roots of potatoes and related species may develop small galls or wart-like structures. Disease development is favored by cool, moist soils. The fungus can survive 3 to 10 years in the soil.

Management Options

Use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for successful plant problem management.

Non-chemical Management

Select non-chemical management options as your first choice!

• Plant disease-free seed.
• Plant in well-drained soils and avoid overwatering.
• Do not plant into infested soils, if possible. Otherwise, use long rotations of three or more years.
• Russet varieties suffer less damage than do white or red varieties.
• Control weeds such as nightshades which are alternate hosts for powdery scab.
• Peel scabby potatoes before use.

Chemical Management

IMPORTANT: Visit Home and Garden Fact Sheets for more information on using pesticides.

• None recommended.