DeS-BL (Blackleg)

Potato blackleg is poorly understood and hard to control

Potato is the second most important staple food crop in the UK. Potatoes are nutritious, filling and inexpensive. However, they are also vulnerable to many pests and diseases. A major issue for UK potato growers is blackleg disease caused by a bacterium called Pectobacterium atrosepticum (Pba). This disease causes tubers to rot and the lower stems to turn black. Globally, financial losses from blackleg disease are estimated at £50M per year. There are few means of controlling infection besides stringent seed quality control measures. Even with these measures, infections still occur. It is not fully clear how potatoes become infected with Pba. However, we do know that certain conditions, for example over-watering, increase the chance of blackleg infections.

Find out more about potato blackleg disease caused by Pectobacterium atrosepticum.

Our research studied how Pba infects, spreads and how cultivation methods affect disease

To understand the impact of irrigation on disease levels, we conducted field trials comparing different watering regimes and used DNA screening to track the abundance of Pba and other bacteria in soil and on roots. Insects and aerosols were gathered and tested to observe their possible role in Pba spread between crops. Root exudates were screened in an attempt to identify compounds linked to resistance and susceptibility. Bacteriocins (proteins isolated from other Pectobacterium species) that can kill Pba when in close contact were identified. Using light sheet and confocal microscopy and fluorescently-labelled Pba, the movement of bacteria in and around mechanically-wounded plant root tissues was analysed. We developed basic models to help track the movement of Pba across Scotland over a number of years.

For more information about this project contact Ian Toth.

Meet the DeS-BL Team

Meet the DeS-BL Advisory Group