Integrated pest management of potatoes

Abstract

The potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is the most important dicotyledonous source of human food. It ranks fifth major food crop of the world, exceed only by the grasses such as wheat, rice, maize, and barley. It is characteristically a crop of the cool, temperate regions or of elevation of approximately 2,000 m or more in the tropics. It requires cool nights and well drained soil with adequate moisture and does not produce well in low altitude, warm, tropical environment. Commercial production of most potatoes is primarily through vegetative propagation by means of lateral buds formed on the tuber, a modified stem. Trough such vegetative propagation, many diseases are transmitted from generation to generation. Suppression of such diseases and reduction of yield losses due to disease are a necessary part of increasing the food supply. The principles, strategies, and tactics of plant disease management are important to preventing yield losses. Integrated pest management (IPM) may supply effective control of the potato pests including aphids (vector of some viruses), Verticillium wilt blackleg, bacterial ring rot, Rhizoctonia, Phytophthora infestans (late blight) and several weeds (night shades, pigweeds, lambs quarters, and annual grasses). It includes regular inspection for healthy seed or nursery, crop production, correct identification of the problem, cultural practices (crop rotation, sanitation etc.), biological control, soil fumigation (if necessary), seed or nursery stock treatment and disinfestations of cutting tools. In this review, pest management methods of potatoes included in IPM was summarized.