Late blight is a very harmful disease of potatoes, tomatoes and related crops. In case of damage, its yield is reduced by 70%. Therefore, the treatment of potato tubers before planting from phytophthora is an extremely important process that helps to prevent future crop losses.
Fighting potato phytophthora
When the disease of potatoes with phytophthora affects its tubers, leaves and stems. First of all, signs of the disease are observed on the sprouts of the vegetable. Dark leaves appear on the lower leaves and separate parts of the stem, which rapidly increase. Then it leads to blackening and drying of the leaves, and in the case of humidity - to rotting them. On tubers, phytophthora manifests itself in the form of grayish, and then brown, hard spots. In this case, rusty necrosis spreads inside the tuber.
The growth of late blight occurs very quickly. In cool and humid weather, the disease can destroy plants on the site in 1-2 weeks.
Prevent the occurrence of disease will help the treatment of potato seeds before planting from phytophthora.
How to treat potatoes from phytophthora before planting?
The first step will be a thorough check of the seed material in order to identify the defective infected tubers. The more of them, the more likely the disease will be.
In addition, much attention should be paid to the place for planting potatoes. The site should be chosen well drained and quickly dried after rain. As a rule, the foci of the disease quickly flare up near the location of forest belts, in low places in the field. On the site there should not be power poles. The cause of the appearance of phytophthora in potatoes can be infection from tomato seedlings, affected by this disease. Therefore, it is recommended to isolate their planting from each other.
Preplant germination of tubers should be carried out. This will accelerate the process of plant development and reduce the likelihood of their destruction by late blight.
The processing of potatoes from phytophthors is carried out with the following preparations:
- Maxim, KS;
- Phytosporin;
- Ridomil Gold MC;
- Bravo;
- Shirlan;
- Ditan M-45.
Treatment of potato tubers with these special preparations will delay the development of the disease for 10-14 days. This is a necessary measure to protect your future crop.