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Sweetpotato scab (013) Print Fact Sheet

Common Name

Sweetpotato scab

Scientific Name

Elsinoe batatas, but sometimes known as Sphaceloma batatas (the asexual stage). Usually, only the asexual state is seen on the leaves.

Distribution

Widespreade. Asia, Africa (restricted), North, South (Brazil), the Caribbean, Ocean. It is recorded from Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, New Caledonia, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu.

Hosts

It is known only from sweetpotato.

Symptoms & Life Cycle

Young leaves are infected along the veins, and infections also occur on the leaf stalks and stems (Photo 1&2). As the leaves grow, the damage to the veins prevents expansion, and they twist, curl and tear. On older leaves, infections produce pinpoint spots between the veins, and the leaves are twisted to expose the under surfaces (Photo 3). In severe, but rare cases, shoot-tips are killed.

The fungus is taken to new gardens on planting material. As the cuttings grow, the fungus produces very small spores in the scabby areas. These spores are spread by rain-splash from plant to plant or in wind-driven rain to other gardens. They germinate in water on the surface of the leaf and stem, penetrate, and cause the spots and scabby areas. Soon after infection, more spores are produced.

It is possible that the fungus survives in crop debris, but this is not important unless crops are planted one after the other on the same land. Most spread is from using infected vines.

Impact

A fungus causes the damage. Both Fiji and Tonga have recorded epidemics of the disease. In Tonga, in the 1980s, farmers stopped growing most varieties, until new varieties were bred using seed from Solomon Islands. Damage to the young shoots can slow early growth and reduce yields. In Papua New Guinea highlands, comparisons between healthy and diseased plants, showed a 60% difference in the yield of storage roots.

Detection & inspection

Look for the brown scabby marks on the leaf veins, stalks and stems. Look for torn, cup-shaped leaves and twisted stems.

Management

CULTURAL CONTROL
There is probably little that farmers can do to control this disease using cultural methods, other than the choice of variety. If the disease is severe in the crop, it might be best not to replant on the same land, but it is doubtful that it will make any difference. This is because the disease is spread from crop to crop in already infected planting material, and also from spores in wind-driven rain.

If growers want to grow susceptible varieties, because of their taste and/or high market value, for instance, then they should do the following:

Before planting:

During growth:

After harvest:

RESISTANT VARIETIES
This is the most important method of control. Varieties differ in their susceptibility to the disease. Some are tolerant. These should be selected and grown in preference to those that are susceptible. It is for this reason that scab is not usually a problem in Pacific island countries. Avoid those varieties that show severe symptoms.

CHEMICAL CONTROL
Scientists have used fungicides to control the disease in trials in Tonga and Papua New Guinea; however, they should not be needed if tolerant varieties are grown. However, commercial farmers might want to use fungicides to grow a susceptible variety for the market. The recommendations are to:


AUTHORS Helen Tsatsia & Grahame Jackson
Photo 2 John Bokosou, NARI, Papua New Guinea.

Produced with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research under project PC/2010/090: Strengthening integrated crop management research in the Pacific Islands in support of sustainable intensification of high-value crop production, implemented by the University of Queensland and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.



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