Selection of microorganisms for biological control of silver scurf (Helminthosporium solani) of potato tubers

Abstract

Few management strategies exist for silver scurf, an important postharvest disease of potatoes. In this study, the microbiota of 47 agricultural soils and 7 tuber samples was screened for biological control agents of silver scurf. Soil or periderm samples were transferred to separate samples of γ irradiation-sterilized field soil enriched with potato periderm. After incubation, the samples were assayed for biological suppressiveness to silver scurf using a whole-tuber/infested soil assay. Over 430 isolates of bacteria, yeasts, and actinomycetes were recovered from tubers and soil associated with the 12 most suppressive soil samples. Thirteen strains were selected for further study on three different strains of Helminthosporium solani, including one that was resistant to thiabendazole. Microbial strains that significantly inhibited H. solani (P ≤ 0.05) in at least one experiment were identified as Pseudomonas putida (PM1), Nocardia globerula (S244), and Xanthomonas campestris (P76). Colonization studies with rifampicin-resistant strains of putative biological control agents revealed that long-term colonization of the tuber surface was not necessary to reduce disease symptoms. Highly variable levels of conidiophore production prevented selection of the single most suppressive strain. Possible sources of variability in biological control are discussed, including physiological age of the tuber, tuber infection in the field, and uneven free moisture in the storage.