Potato crops are affected by over 50 pests and diseases caused by insects, nematodes, viruses, bacteria and fungi. These pathogens are air- or soil-borne and cause damage on all parts of the plant. Prominent diseases that affect crop development include late blight, stem canker, black scurf, common scab, dry rot, early dying and numerous nematodes. Soil-borne diseases that affect tuber quality include common scab, powdery scab, pink rot, leak, black dot, black scurf, root knot nematode, and Fusarium dry rot. However, Phytophthora infestans, Alterneria solani, Rhizoctonia solani, Streptomyces scabies, Verticillium wilt, remain the most important re-emerging pathogens in the potato industry worldwide. Identification and detection of the pathogens in asymptomatic areas is important for planning timely control measures against these diseases, as well as predicting future outbreaks. Thus, it is crucial to develop efficient, reliable, and sensitive diagnostic tools to detect resistant strains as early as possible. Detection methods can utilise pathogen molecular markers, which additionally allows the distinction of strains within species, allowing growers to implement effective control strategies before symptoms appear. These markers can also be used for pre-plant seed health testing and ensure disease-free seed movement across borders for quarantine purposes.
DNA-based techniques such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), quantitative-PCR (qPCR) and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), as well as sequencing approaches, are widely used for the detection of various plant pathogens. Using bioinformatics in plant pathology has made it possible to identify specific motifs and DNA sequences, increasing the accuracy of modern diagnostic techniques. Proteomics has the potential to provide information on pathogenicity and virulence factors that may lead to new approaches for diagnosing plant diseases and identifying protective measures. When combined with disease management practices and the production of new diseases-resistant cultivars, rapid and cost-effective pathogen diagnostic methods are key to preventing the devastating yield losses caused by pathogens.
In this Research Topic we aim to publish state of the art Original Research and Reviews on the following, but not limited to, topics:
- Potato pathogen detection and epidemiology;
- Potato pathogen biology, population genetics & genomics.
- The development and validation of generic and specific detection methods for potato pathogens.
- Innovative technologies that assist detection and identification of potato pathogens in support of e.g. early detection, warning systems, emerging problems and actual problems putting pressure on crop cultivation in horticulture and agriculture.
- Molecular characterization of potato pathogens using improved markers or traits.
- Plant-pathogen and pathogen-soil microorganism interactions;
- Plant genetics, genomics, and breeding for resistance;
- Integrated disease management.
Please note, we encourage studies using at least two years data but descriptive studies lacking significant biological advances would be rejected without peer review.
Potato crops are affected by over 50 pests and diseases caused by insects, nematodes, viruses, bacteria and fungi. These pathogens are air- or soil-borne and cause damage on all parts of the plant. Prominent diseases that affect crop development include late blight, stem canker, black scurf, common scab, dry rot, early dying and numerous nematodes. Soil-borne diseases that affect tuber quality include common scab, powdery scab, pink rot, leak, black dot, black scurf, root knot nematode, and Fusarium dry rot. However, Phytophthora infestans, Alterneria solani, Rhizoctonia solani, Streptomyces scabies, Verticillium wilt, remain the most important re-emerging pathogens in the potato industry worldwide. Identification and detection of the pathogens in asymptomatic areas is important for planning timely control measures against these diseases, as well as predicting future outbreaks. Thus, it is crucial to develop efficient, reliable, and sensitive diagnostic tools to detect resistant strains as early as possible. Detection methods can utilise pathogen molecular markers, which additionally allows the distinction of strains within species, allowing growers to implement effective control strategies before symptoms appear. These markers can also be used for pre-plant seed health testing and ensure disease-free seed movement across borders for quarantine purposes.
DNA-based techniques such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), quantitative-PCR (qPCR) and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), as well as sequencing approaches, are widely used for the detection of various plant pathogens. Using bioinformatics in plant pathology has made it possible to identify specific motifs and DNA sequences, increasing the accuracy of modern diagnostic techniques. Proteomics has the potential to provide information on pathogenicity and virulence factors that may lead to new approaches for diagnosing plant diseases and identifying protective measures. When combined with disease management practices and the production of new diseases-resistant cultivars, rapid and cost-effective pathogen diagnostic methods are key to preventing the devastating yield losses caused by pathogens.
In this Research Topic we aim to publish state of the art Original Research and Reviews on the following, but not limited to, topics:
- Potato pathogen detection and epidemiology;
- Potato pathogen biology, population genetics & genomics.
- The development and validation of generic and specific detection methods for potato pathogens.
- Innovative technologies that assist detection and identification of potato pathogens in support of e.g. early detection, warning systems, emerging problems and actual problems putting pressure on crop cultivation in horticulture and agriculture.
- Molecular characterization of potato pathogens using improved markers or traits.
- Plant-pathogen and pathogen-soil microorganism interactions;
- Plant genetics, genomics, and breeding for resistance;
- Integrated disease management.
Please note, we encourage studies using at least two years data but descriptive studies lacking significant biological advances would be rejected without peer review.