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Pests and Diseases

Potato Blackleg

Bacterial Diseases of Crops

A bacterial disease, chiefly caused by Pectobacterium and Dickeya species, that blackens and rots the stem base of growing potato plants and causes soft rot of tubers in storage. It spreads readily through infected seed potatoes and in wet field conditions, and because no chemical control cures an infected plant, management relies heavily on certified disease free seed stock and field sanitation.

Facts
Classification
Agent Kind
Bacterium 1
Connections

Associated With

Potato, Crops

Blackleg (Pectobacterium/Dickeya spp.) is a major bacterial stem and tuber rot disease of potato.

Sources
1. Potato Blackleg (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundation
  • Opening definition paragraph
    Blackleg is a plant disease of potato caused by pectolytic bacteria that can result in stunting, wilting, chlorosis of leaves, necrosis of several tissues, a decline in yield, and at times the death of the potato plant. The term "blackleg" originates from the typical blackening and decay of the lower stem portion, or "leg", of the plant.
  • lead description
    A bacterial disease, chiefly caused by Pectobacterium and Dickeya species, that blackens and rots the stem base of growing potato plants and causes soft rot of tubers in storage.
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