Season Spotlight
Potato early dying is characterized by the loss of plant vigor during mid to late summer followed by vine senescence (physiological aging) and death of the crop prior to normal maturity. Symptoms are difficult to distinguish from normal senescence and include one-sided chlorosis, necrosis of vines, and tan discoloration of vascular tissues. Plants that are severely affected tend to stand more erect than other plants resulting in a symptom called "flagging". While the main cause of potato early dying in the Pacific Northwest is most commonly attributed to Verticillium dahliae, fertility, other pathogens, a wide range of environmental factors, and possibly nematodes, result in a “disease complex” which can substantially reduce potato yield and tuber size. Factors that reduce optimal growth or contribute to crop stress can increase the incidence and severity of potato early dying.
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