Have you seen our new advertisement? It reads: WHO SAID YOU HAVE TO PUT UP WITH BLACK DOT ON YOUR SEED? AS A SEED GROWER, YOU DON’T HAVE TO ACCEPT THAT.
Did you know? Seed potatoes are susceptible to many common soil-borne diseases and pathogens that can inhibit tuber growth uniformity and chip away at marketable harvest yields.
But there is a tool that manages soil borne disease, including black dot, helping you reach a greater marketable yield and improved soil health. SOIL FUMIGATION WITH STRIKE CAN COMPLETELY CHANGE THE ECONOMICS FOR A POTATO SEED FARM.
Our ad coincides with a new article recently published in Spud Smart magazine: TURNS OUT BLACK DOT COSTS A LOT MORE THAN WE’VE REALIZED.
In summary: Black dot has historically been overlooked in potato seed production but may be causing greater issues than anyone realized. As we keep learning more about diseases and disease complexes, it’s more and more clear that black dot is a significant yield robber that deserves closer attention. Recent research shows that black dot, caused by the fungus Colletotrichum coccodes, can be part of the early die complex, working synergistically with Verticillium dahliae and root-lesion nematodes to weaken plants and reduce yields.
Black dot preys on plants already compromised by other stress factors, whether that’s moisture challenges, nutrient deficiency, or prior infection. It thrives in weakened plants. Once established, black dot is difficult to control, spreading through soil and plant debris and persisting in fields for years.
Is black dot’s incidence increasing? That’s hard to say as it’s been overlooked for so long. One thing is certain: the pathogen is prevalent. As farmers increasingly realize, black dot is costing marketable yield in many fields.
The financial impact is hard to pin down especially in North America, where black dot often co-occurs with verticillium, making it difficult to separate their individual effects. However, trials in South Africa where black dot occurred in isolation showed dramatic yield losses, with production dropping by more than 50% in infected fields in some cases. When growers introduced Strike soil fumigant to suppress black dot, yields rebounded to pre-infection levels, nearly doubling in affected fields.
The Spud Smart article promotes the use of Strike as part of a management strategy. Read the full article here: https://spudsmart.com/turns-out-black-dot-costs-a-lot-more-than-weve-realized/