Study identifies causes of potato dry rot in Colorado
Why it matters: Accurate pathogen ID protects potato yields and farmer profits in a key U.S. agricultural region.
- Colorado State University uncovers four Fusarium species causing dry rot, one new to the U.S., (Plant Disease)
- San Luis Valley Research Center provides the regional context, showing the disease’s impact on a top U.S. potato‑growing area
- Fusarium species differ in aggressiveness and management response, making precise ID crucial for effective control
- Growers and storage managers will gain sharper diagnostic tools and tailored management strategies to cut post‑harvest losses
Colorado State University researchers in the San Luis Valley have pinpointed four Fusarium fungi behind potato dry rot, including a species never before recorded in the U.S. Their molecular and structural analysis will sharpen diagnosis, guide targeted treatments, and inform breeding of resistant cultivars, safeguarding Colorado’s potato industry.
