Potato Blackleg (Pectobacterium atrosepticum)

Blackleg is a disease of potatoes which in the UK it is mainly caused by Pectobacterium atrosepticum. The name comes from the fact that the lower stems of infected plants are dark brown or black. The discolouration and decay often starts below ground, spreading upwards until the whole stem is black and wilted. Damp conditions in the soil or during storage increase disease severity. The disease seems to be spread mainly via contaminated equipment, soils, ground and surface water, but may also be spread from plant to plant by nematodes in the soil. Researchers on our DeS-BL project are working to better understand how environmental conditions and farming practices might affect disease spread to help growers make more informed choices.

Find out more about Potato Blackleg via these resources:

• Information on potato blackleg symptoms and control from RHS
• Factsheet about potato blackleg from Fera Science
• Scientific information about Pectobacterium atrosepticum from CABI
• Education resource on potato blackleg from APS

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