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Disease Detection and Losses

End Rot, Surface Rot, and Stem Lesions Caused on Sweet Potato by Fusarium solani. C. A. Clark, Assistant professor, Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology, Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge 70803; Phytopathology 70:109-112. Accepted for publication 7 August 1979. Copyright 1980 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-70-109.

Fusarium solani isolates from sweet potato caused a surface rot on roots, a previously undescribed decay that progressed from the ends of the roots, and stem lesions on sprouts and vine cuttings. Isolates from Louisiana sweet potatoes with any one of the three different symptoms, produced all three types of symptoms after appropriate inoculations. Louisiana F. solani isolates from sweet potato differed from North Carolina isolates in colony morphology and in an apparent inability to penetrate the vascular ring of infected roots. Wounding is a prerequisite for infection of sweet potato by F. solani, and deep wounds may allow penetration of the vascular ring by Louisiana isolates. Jasper was the only commercial cultivar of six tested which was susceptible to end rot.