Brown Rot of Potato
Why the concern?
This is a quarantine disease of potato that is listed in the EC Plant Health Directive and is notifiable
in the UK. Yield losses are mostly caused by tuber rotting and, in many warmer areas of the world,
it is one of the main limiting factors in potato production. The effect on our seed-potato industry
could be substantial, especially for exports, if the disease became established in the UK. Once
established, the costs of control could also be high. Control of this disease requires vigilance from
all sectors of the industry, from growers through to merchants, packers and retailers.
What is it?
Brown rot is caused by the bacterium Ralstonia solanacearumand is widely distributed in warm
temperate areas of the world. Within the EC, there have been sporadic findings in many member
states including Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal,
Slovakia, Spain, Sweden. There have been five outbreaks in England in ware potatoes between 1992
and 2000. Tomato crops are also susceptible and have been affected at a single location in the UK in
1997 and 1998.
What does it look like?
The bacterium can cause wilting of the potato plant but the symptoms you are most likely to see
are in the tuber:
The initial symptom is brown staining of the vascular ring (hence the name "brown" rot) that starts
from the stolon (heel) end.
A pale, creamy bacterial exudate may ooze from the cut vascular tissues.
In severe infections the vascular tissues rot away completely. Bacterial exudate may ooze from the
eyes and the heel end (where the tuber was attached to the stolon).
Wilting of the leaves starts towards the top of the plant and may be initially confined to one side
of a leaf or to only one stem. This can lead to rapid drying and death of the whole plant, although
wilting has rarely been observed in European crops. Bacterial exudate also oozes from cut stems of
infected plants, as in the tomato stem shown above.
Symptom expression occurs at different rates in different varieties and is favoured by warm
temperatures (above 15
0C with optimum around 25 0C) and other environmental conditions
(especially high soil moisture).
In some case the bacteria can latently infect tubers without causing noticeable symptoms and can
survive in seed tubers during storage and cause disease when planted in the next season.
How does it spread?
● The most effective means of spread
of brown rot worldwide is through
distribution and planting of infected
seed potatoes.
● Although seed transmission has
occurred in some other European
countries, all UK potato cases were
due to waterlogging following
irrigation, or flooding from
contaminated watercourses.
● In almost all European outbreaks
associated with contaminated water,
woody nightshade (Solanum
dulcamara)plants with roots growing
in contaminated watercourses have
been found to be infected and this
has acted as a continuing source of
infection in the water.
● It is likely that contamination of watercourses has occurred in the past through discharge of
untreated waste from imported infected ware potatoes.
● The bacterium can also survive from season to season in potato groundkeepers (unharvested
potatoes from the previous crop).
● Spread may also occur via contaminated equipment or from waste dumps containing
contaminated material.
What is being done to help?
● Legislation
Under the terms of the EC Plant Health Directive and the Plant Health (Great Britain) Order 1993
(as amended), importation of material carrying these diseases is prohibited. In addition, a specific
control directive (98/57/EC) for the disease lays down measures aimed at preventing its spread
and, if possible, eradicating it.
● Surveys
Defra Plant Health and Seeds Inspectors (PHSIs) and SEERAD carry out an annual survey of seed
and ware potato stocks, including those grown from both UK and non-UK seed, and undertake
annual surveys of watercourses which involves irrigation and spraying prohibitions for potato
and tomato crops. Samples are tested for latent infection at the Central Science Laboratory
(for England and Wales) and the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency (for Scotland).
● Import inspections
Consignments of imported ware potatoes are inspected by the PHSI and samples are taken for
testing at the Central Science Laboratory. Potatoes originating in Egypt are subject to specific
controls against brown rot, including inspection and testing and restrictions on processing to
sites with adequate waste disposal facilities.
Woody nightshade (Solanum dulcamara)
What can you do?
Keep a good look out
If you see any of the symptoms described above you must immediately contact your local Defra
Plant Health and Seeds Inspector or the PHSI HQ, York:
Tel: 01904 455174
Fax: 01904 455197
Email: planthealth.info@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Web: www.defra.gov.uk/planth/ph.htm
Or, in Scotland, contact your local SEERAD Area Office or SEERAD HQ, Edinburgh:
Tel: 0131 244 6352
Fax: 0131244 6509/6539
Email: plant.health@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Web: www.scotland.gov.uk
PB 10694 Printed on recycled paper containing 80% post consumer waste and 20% Totally Chlorine Free virgin pulp
Plant only classified seed
Do not irrigate with
contaminated water
Control groundkeepers
Good hygiene
Don't dump waste on
agricultural land All classified seed potatoes produced in the EC must have been
derived from material found free from the disease. Source seed with
extreme care.
Consult your local plant health inspector for advice on any locally
contaminated watercourses and options for safe irrigation practices.
Potato groundkeepers are a key factor in survival of the pathogen
following an outbreak. Their control removes an important source of
disease inoculum.
Regularly clean and disinfect all machinery, equipment, containers,
vehicles and storage facilities used during potato production.
Discarded potatoes and potato processing waste could harbour the
disease. Dispose of all potato waste in accordance with the Code of
Practice for the Management of Agricultural and Horticultural Waste
(PB 3580).
