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OCCURRENCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF BLACK SCURF OF POTATO IN PAKISTAN

 C.A. RAUF, M. ASHRAF^* AND I. AHMAD^**

Abstract: During field survey, 525 potato tuber samples weighing 2-5 kg were taken and found that black scurf caused by Rhizoctonia solani was a common fungal disease in all the eight potato production agro-ecological zones of Pakistan.  The highest mean disease prevalence, incidence and severity of 99.50%, 65.55% and 2.95 rating, respectively, was found in zone 2, comprising of the Punjab province.  The lowest mean disease prevalence 59.19%, incidence 12.81% and severity 1.19 rating was found in zone 7 comprising of Northern Areas of Pakistan.  Hundred percent locations surveyed in the remaining six zones were found having this disease. Ten locations in zone 7 namely Booni, Mastuj, Laspur, Shahidaas, Chinar, Garam Chasma, Roi, Norcoraite, Kajal and Murdan were found disease free. These locations could be used for disease free potato seed production. The results of this survey indicate that zone 2, a major potato production area of Pakistan, is heavily affected by black scurf. Moreover, this is the zone which out flows tubers for seed purpose to the remaining potato growing areas of the country. This alarming situation of black scurf at zone 2 demands some emergent multi-dimentional measures instantly be taken with respect to disease management, seed certification, farmers motivation with respect to avoid potato mono-culture and vigilant export of healthy seed tubers to other parts of the country.

Department of Plant Pathology, University of Arid Agriculture, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
Email: raufchaudhary@hotmail.com