Pacific Pests, Pathogens, Weeds & Pesticides - Online edition

Pacific Pests, Pathogens, Weeds & Pesticides

Sweetpotato scurf (260)

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Photo 1. Dark grey patches on the surface of sweerpotato storage roots caused by scurf, Monilochaetes infuscans.

Photo 2. Scurf, Monilochaetes infuscans, symptoms on variety Beauregard.

Summary

  • Worldwide distribution. On sweepotato and wild Ipomoea (morning glory). The disease lowers quality, not yield of storage roots.
  • Grey fungal spots and patches (purplish-black on orange-fleshed types), merging, but superficial over storage roots. Spots on stems and leaves.
  • Disease more in wet soils with high organic matter.
  • Spread occurs on infected cuttings.
  • Cultural control: 2-3-year crop rotation; weed; disease-free cuttings; land free from the fungus; do not add organic manures to soil where scurf occurs; collect and burn trash after harvest.
  • Chemical control: none recommended.

Common Name

Sweetpotato scurf

Scientific Name

Monilochaetes infuscans

AUTHOR Grahame Jackson
Information from CABI (2015) Monilochaetes infuscans (scurf of sweet potato). Crop Protection Compendium. (https://www.cabi.org/cpc/datasheet/34723); and Monilochaetes infuscans (MNLCIN). EPPO Global Database. (https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/MNLCIN); 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).

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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