On the potato wilt disease

Abstract

The Fusarium wilt disease of potatoes is prevalent in certain districts of Hokkaido and causes severe damage on the crop in recent years. The author described the symptoms in full and isolated 3 species of Fusaria from the affected potato plants, namely Fusarium oxysporum SCHLECHT. f. 1 WR., a variety of Fusarium Solani APP. et WR., and Fusarium avenaceum SACC. Among these Fusaria, Fusarium oxysporum SBHL. f. 1 WR. and a variety of Fusarium solani APP. et WR. were pathogenic and they caused typical potato wilt in infection experiments. The variety of F. solani was markedly virulent. The toxicity of fungus filtrates was proved to cause the wilting of the cuttings of potato shoots by experiments. Fusarium avenaceum, however, seems to cause only the rottings of stored potatoes and not the wilting in the field. (Jan., 1948)