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A comparison of potato seed-tuber sampling strategies using visual and DNA analyses to estimate incidence of major seed tuber-borne pathogens

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-18, 01:45 authored by Robert TeggRobert Tegg, Stephen CorkreyStephen Corkrey, Calum WilsonCalum Wilson
Potato seed certification is a disease management tool that minimises the risk of spreading seed tuber-borne inoculum of infectious diseases. Traditionally, certification sampling strategies have relied upon visual assessment of a seedlot from samples taken at one or two points within the load of seed tubers. However methodologies in selection of tuber samples have not been critically assessed for their precision in estimating disease load. This study presents an analysis of 37 potato seedlots over a 3 year period. Analysis of sample data using receiver operating curves (ROCs) indicates that point sampling taking two samples of 100 tubers at the beginning and end of a seedlot gives equivalent disease estimation as a continuous sampling strategy taking ten samples of 20 tubers randomly throughout the seedlot, although at lower statistical precision. This was confirmed both by visual assessment of tuber-borne disease and by analysis of pathogen DNA content from tuber peel. Across the 3 years of study, powdery scab and black scurf were themajor seed tuberborne diseases recognised and this corresponded with high levels of pathogen DNA from peel analysis for both Spongospora subterranea and Rhizoctonia solani AG3 respectively.

Funding

Horticulture Innovation Australia

History

Publication title

European Journal of Plant Pathology

Volume

139

Pagination

359-367

ISSN

0929-1873

Department/School

Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA)

Publisher

Kluwer Academic Publ

Place of publication

Van Godewijckstraat 30, Dordrecht, Netherlands, 3311 Gz

Rights statement

Copyright 2014 Springer

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Field grown vegetable crops