Insect name: Potato borer

Introduction: Stinging insects damage plants by cutting their roots. The eggs hatch and the caterpillars eat the outer (skin) part of the leaf.

How to identify the insect: The stinger is quite strong, 40-50 mm long The back of the insect is dark brown, the flanks are streaked with black and the colour is greyish green. The body is soft and oily.

Examples of damage: Cutworms cut saplings and bore into potatoes causing light crop damage. The insect hides underground during the day. Cut potato plants are often found lying next to the cut root.

Management: If the infestation of cutworms is not too high, the cut potato plants should be looked at and the soil around them should be turned over to find and kill the cutworms. While irrigating the potato field, kerosene oil mixed with water at the rate of 20 ml/cent can kill the cuttlefish hiding in the soil. In addition, to encourage the birds, it is necessary to bury bamboo sticks or twigs in the field. Insecticides should be used if the infestation is heavy. Mix 5 ml of chlorpyrifos (Darshan) at 20 EC rate with every litre of water and soak the roots and soil regularly. Separ should be done after 30-40 days of planting potatoes.

Insect Name: Potato Jab Bug

 

Introduction: Myzas persici among the beetle species destroys seed quality by spreading virus diseases.

Pattern of damage: This species helps spread potato leafroll virus A and virus Y causing severe damage to potato crops.

Favourable environment: The number of this insect increases from the middle of December.

Administration: Dymacron/Benicron 100 SCW 10 ml. The drug should be mixed with 10 litres of water and 5 percent of the soil should be applied well.

Name of the insect: Potato twine bug

Introduction: Potato twine moths are small, brown with fringed, narrow wings.

 

Identification: Adult worms are whitish or light pink in colour and 15-20 mm long.

Pattern of damage: The caterpillar damages the potato by tunnelling long distances into the potato.

Favourable environment: Potatoes stored at home in Bangladesh are affected by this pest.

Management: House-stored potatoes should be covered with a thin layer (0.5 cm above the potato) of dry sand, ash, chaff, or sawdust. Before storing the potatoes, the cotton worm infected potatoes should be selected and discarded.

Name of the insect: Udchunga

Introduction: It is a pest of potato crops.

Pattern of damage: They emerge from burrows at night and eat roots, potatoes and stems of potato plants.

Management: Use poisoned baits. Insects should be removed from the hole and killed.

Disease management:

Disease Name: Potato blight/Nabi blight

Introduction: This disease is caused by the attack of the fungus called Phytophthora infestans.

Pattern of damage: First, leaves, tips, and some parts of the stem are surrounded. If the relative humidity of the air is high, most of the crops of the land are affected within 2-3 days. In the morning, white powdery fungus can be seen under the affected leaves. Infected fields have a burning smell and appear as if the crops have been burnt.

 

Management: Disease free seeds should be used. Irrigation should be stopped as far as possible in the affected land. As soon as the disease appears, approved fungicides such as Ridomil (0.2%), Dithane M-45 (0.2%) etc. should be applied after 10-12 days.

Disease name: potato blight or leaf spot

Introduction: This disease is caused by the fungus called Alternaria solani.

Damage pattern: Small brownish angular spots on lower leaves. The affected area develops dark circular spots alternating with slight brown areas. Leaf spots and stem spots are relatively j¤^v type. Symptoms of this disease include yellowing of trees, falling leaves and premature death of trees. Infected tubers develop dark brown to black spots.

Management: Ensure balanced fertilisation and timely irrigation. As soon as the disease appears, 2 grams of rovral should be mixed in every litre of water and applied after 7-10 days. Dithane M-45 can be applied at the rate of 0.2%. Early varieties of potatoes should be cultivated.

Disease name: Verticillium wilt

Introduction: A type of fungus is the source of disease.

Damage pattern: Verticillium elboetrum is the source of the disease. Diseased plants dry up, turn yellow and die prematurely. When the affected stem is cut, grey colour is seen inside. On the surface of the tuber, the eyes turn pink and grey.

Management: Use of disease free seeds, soil treatment, crop stage.

 

Disease Name: Potato stem canker scarf disease

Introduction: This disease is caused by the fungus called Rhizoctonia solani.

Damage Patterns: Attack spots appear on growing shoot heads and stolons. Reddish spots or lesions are formed at the base of large plants. Small tubers are seen along the stem. Infected tubers show solid black and dormant disease spores.

 

Management: Terchlor (PCNB) at the rate of 15 kg per hectare should be applied in the seed canal before sowing. Seed treatment with 3% boric acid or application of separ machine also gives good results. Avoid planting seed potatoes too deep in the soil. Well germinated seed potatoes should be planted.

Disease Name: Stem Rot

Introduction: This disease is caused by the attack of the fungus called Sclerosium Rolfsi.

Pattern of damage: Attack of this disease causes brown spots covering the base of the stem. The tree droops and the leaves turn yellow especially the lower leaves. A whitish web of fungus is seen on the affected area or in the surrounding soil. After a few days, a mustard seed-like sclerotium is formed. Potatoes ooze water and rot. Gradually the potatoes rot.

Management: Affected plants should be removed along with some soil. The land should be cultivated deeply. Organic fertilizers should always be applied to the land.

Disease Name: Dry Rot Disease of Potato

Introduction: This disease is caused by fungal attack.

Pattern of damage: Some deep black spots on the potato. Holes are formed inside the potato. Although the initial decomposition is wet, it dries and hardens. Infected areas show rounded folds and sometimes cloudy white fungal reticulation.

Management: Potatoes should be well sorted and stored. Potatoes should be stored after proper curing. Seed potatoes should be treated with Dithane M45 solution (0.2%). Sacks, baskets and stored potatoes should be treated with 5% formalin. Potatoes need to be treated with Tekto 2% powder at 2 grams per kg.

 

Disease name: Drooping and brown rot

Introduction: This disease is caused by the fungus called Pseudomonas solanacearum.

Pattern of damage: A branch or a part of the tree may fall. Leaves usually do not turn yellow and fall off when green. If you look at the stem of the tree at the beginning, you can see the brown affected area. Fallen trees are silenced very quickly. Cut the affected potato and you will see brown spots inside. White pus appears in the eyes of the potato and the potato rots within a few days.

Management: Healthy disease free seeds should be used. At the time of potato planting, stable bleaching powder should be applied at the rate of 80-90 kg per hectare. Apply irrigation in moderation and stop irrigation if disease occurs.

Disease Name: Potato Blight

Introduction: This disease is caused by the fungus called Streptomyces scabies.

Pattern of damage: Mild scab causes raised and raised brown spots on the tuber. Deep ringworm causes round pits or pits. Disease attack is usually limited to the skin.

Management: Disease free seeds should be used. Excessive use of nitrogen fertilisers in the land should be avoided. The seeds should be treated with 3% boric acid. 120 kg of gypsum fertiliser should be applied per hectare.

Disease Name: Potato Black Leg/Soft Rot Disease

Introduction: This disease is caused by the attack of Aruna carotivora bacteria.

Pattern of Damage: Cells rot in the affected area. Rotten potatoes produce a strong odour. When pressed, a kind of contaminated water comes out of the potato. The affected part is brown and soft which can be easily distinguished from the healthy part.

Management: Healthy and disease free seeds should be used. Do not over-irrigate. Cultivation should be done early to avoid high heat. Potatoes should be well sorted and stored. Seed potatoes should be preserved by cleaning the tubers with 1% bleaching powder or 3% boric acid solution.

Disease name: Leaf roll virus

Introduction: It is a viral disease.

Pattern of damage: Leaves of affected plants become shrivelled, erect and curled upwards. Agar leaves turn light green and plant growth stops. Sometimes the edges of the affected leaves are reddish purple in colour. The tree is short and stands upright. The number of potatoes decreases and the potatoes are much smaller.

Management: Disease free seeds should be used. Pesticides (Azdrin, Novacron, Menodrin etc.) should be mixed with 2 ml or 1 ml Diamicron per litre of water and spread on the ground every 7-10 days. Infected plants should be removed along with tubers.

 

Disease Name: Mild Mosaic

Introduction: The disease is caused by Potato virus A and X.

Pattern of damage: Leaves turn yellow with various coloured spots. The leaves are slightly curled and the tree is stunted.

Management: Use of disease-free seed potatoes and sowing of potato resistant to this disease and control of borer.

Disease Name: Common Scab

Introduction: Streptomyces scabies

Pattern of damage: Only tubers show symptoms. Brown, raised or crusty spots (ringworm) appear on the tuber.

Management : The remedies for this disease are – crop stage, use of treated and disease free seeds, avoidance of potato cultivation in alkaline soil and field and regular and moderate irrigation.

 

Disease Name: Internal black spot

Introduction: Diseases caused by protozoa

Damage pattern: The centre of the tuber is black or bluish-black in colour. If the lack of oxygen is too much, all the tubers may turn black. The affected area may contract and swell.

Management: Remedies for this disease include not storing at high temperatures and keeping the warehouse well ventilated.

Disease Name: Heart Hollow Disease

Introduction: Parabiotic Diseases

Pattern of damage: Usually large potatoes have uneven hollows in the centre. The side cells are rough and brown in colour which is not visible from the outside.

Management: The remedy for this disease is short distance sowing, use of balanced fertilisers and regular irrigation.

Harvesting:

It is not advisable to pick potatoes on cloudy or rainy days. Picking up potatoes in the morning