Beneficial bacteria protect potatoes

Agricultural Research, April, 2005 by Patricia J. Watson Slininger, David A. Schisler

Spraying potatoes in commercial storage bins with harmless, beneficial bacteria that delay sprouting and suppress dry rot may also protect the tubers against late blight disease. Researchers had already patented methods for using 18 strains of Pseudomonas and Enterobacter bacteria to stymie the first two storage problems.

Now they've discovered that the spray-on bacteria also curb infection by Phytophthora infestans. This funguslike organism causes late blight, a worldwide threat that costs the U.S. potato industry about $400 million annually. In warehouse-simulation studies at the University of Idaho-Kimberly, the bacteria curbed late blight by 35 to 91 percent. Next will be collaboration with a commercial firm interested in conducting further tests under a cooperative research and development agreement. Patricia J. Watson Slininger and David A. Schisler, USDA-ARS National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Peoria, Illinois: [Slininger] phone (309) 681-6596, e-mail sliininpj@mail.ncaur. usda.gov; [Schisler] phone (309) 681-6284, e-mail schislda@ncar.usda.gov.