- Worldwide distribution. On sweetpotato. A common, and sometimes serious fungal disease.
- Worse in wet weather.
- Young leaves infected early, especially along veins causing them to distort as they expand.
- Spread is by water splash, wind-driven rain, and on planting material.
- Cultural control: tolerant varieties, which exist in most countries. If susceptible varieties are needed, grow cuttings from sweetpotato storage roots, in a nursery far from production areas.
- Chemical control: mancozeb when symptoms first occur, but likely to be uneconomic.
Pacific Pests, Pathogens and Weeds - Online edition
Pacific Pests, Pathogens, Weeds & Pesticides
Sweetpotato scab (013)
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Summary
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.
AUTHORS Helen Tsatsia & Grahame Jackson
Information from Jackson G, McKenzie E (1991) Pest Advisory Leaflet 24. South Pacific Commission, Noumea, New Caledonia. (https://lrd.spc.int/component/docman/cat_view/137-all/128-plant-health-/276-pest-advisory-leaflets?start=40); and from Ekman J, Lovatt J (2015) Pests, Diseases and Disorders of Sweetpotato: A Field Identification Guide. (https://www.soilwealth.com.au/imagesDB/news/Sweet-Potato-Pest-and-Disease-Guide.pdf). 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.
