Colonization of Potato by Colletotrichum coccodes: Effect of Soil Infestation and Seed Tuber and Foliar Inoculation

Colonization of potato (Solanum tuberosum) tissue, including roots, stolons, and above and below ground stems, by Colletotrichum coccodes, the causal agent of black dot, was evaluated following soil infestation, inoculation of seed tubers and foliage, and every combination thereof, in field trials over two growing seasons in North Dakota and Minnesota. A total of 107,520 isolations for C. coccodes performed across four site-years allowed for an extensive comparison of fungal colonization of the host plant and disease severity. The black dot pathogen was detected in potato stems at the first sampling date in all four site-years, as early as 14 days prior to emergence. Colonization of above and below ground stems occurred at a higher frequency than in roots and stolons in all four site-years, resulting in significantly higher relative area under the colonization progress curves (RAUCPCs) (α = 0.05). Although fungal colonization and disease incidence were higher in inoculated and/or infested treatments, sufficient natural inoculum was present to result in substantial levels of disease in noninoculated and noninfested plots. However, noninoculated and noninfested plots displayed the lowest RAUCPC values across three of four site-years and those treatments with multiple inoculation events tended to have higher RAUCPC values. Isolates belonging to vegetative compatibility group (VCG)2 and -5 were recovered from plants sampled in 2004 more frequently than isolates belonging to VCG1 and -3. A significant difference in disease incidence on stems was observed only in North Dakota in 2004 and Minnesota in 2003 (α = 0.05). Noninoculated and noninfested plots displayed the lowest disease incidence, whereas those treatments with more than one inoculation and/or infestation event tended to have higher disease incidence. Results of this study, including the disease severity and yield data, provide a better understanding of colonization of potato plants by C. coccodes and its impact.