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University of
Idaho potato scientists find 'astounding' help for disease
control in storage |
February 8, 2005
Challenged by two important potato diseases, late blight and
pink rot, University of
Idaho Extension Potato scientists
Jeff Miller and
Nora Olsen wanted to
see whether phosphorous acid would help prevent the
diseases' spread in Idaho potato storages. The biopesticide,
which Olsen describes as a "cross between a fertilizer and a
fungicide," is so low in toxicity that residues aren't a
concern to government regulators.
The results: 99 percent of potatoes first artificially
exposed to extreme levels of pink rot fungi, then treated
with phosphorous acid on their way into storage, escaped
pink rot. That compared with 10 percent of untreated spuds.
Figures were similarly astounding for late blight.
Phosphorous acid won't stop disease in tubers already
infected in the field, Miller cautions, but it prevents its
spread to healthy tubers in storage. Miller's and Olsen's
findings were so persuasive that the manufacturer of one
phosphorous acid product, Phostrol, labeled it as a
postharvest spray.
About 450,000 tons of North American potatoes were treated
with Phostrol after harvest this fall, Miller says. "The
exciting thing is that this is an idea that originated right
at the University of Idaho."
"It's something that we can hang our hats on, realizing that
we brought it to fruition in the industry," Olsen agrees.
Further research by UI graduate student Shane Clayson is
addressing just how phosphorous acid does its good work.
This winter, Miller and Olsen are evaluating its
effectiveness in larger research bins.
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