Potato Dry Rot Caused by Fusarium spp. and Mycotoxins Accumulation and Management

Abstract

Dry rot of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an important postharvest disease during storage. The decay can be caused by several different species of Fusarium spp., such as, F. sambucinum, F. coeruleum, F. oxysporum, F. avenaceum, F. culmorum. The pathogen of Fusarum spp. causing dry rot of potato is considerable different in different countries and regions. The typical symptom of potato dry rot is sunken and wrinkled brown to black tissue patch on tuber with less dry matter and shriveled flesh. Fusarium spp. only invades host through wound or natural orifice during pre-harvest, storage and transportation period. Some Fusarium species infection associated with mycotoxins accumulation, which has phytotoxicity and mycotoxicoses in humans and animals. Synthetic fungicide is the main strategy to control the dry rot of potato, however, there are series of problem, such as environmental pollution, pathogen resistance. An integrated approach to manage the disease includes the introduction of resistant cultivar, appropriate cultural practices, and storage conditions combined with the application of synthetic fungicides pre-harvest or post-harvest. Moreover, some chemical fungicides and microbial antagonists have been integrated into potato dry rot management.