| Verticillium wilt is caused by a soilborne fungal pathogen that infects the vascular system of a variety of plant species, including potatoes (Dobinson 1995; Mahuku et al. 1999). Verticillium wilt is found in most potato production areas all over the world and is an economically important disease that causes reduced tuber yields and produces diseased seed tubers (Mahuku et al. 1999).; On Prince Edward Island, Verticillium wilt is caused primarily by two aggressive pathogens; Verticillium albo-atrum 'group 1' and V. dahliae (Mahuku et al. 1999). Also present in the soil, are two less aggressive species, V. albo-atrum 'group 2' and V. tricorpus (Heinz and Platt 2000). Little is known about these less aggressive species and their role in the Verticillium wilt disease complex (Mahuku et al. 2002; Mahuku et al. 1999). Further studies will help to better define their role as it has been suggested that they may compete with the more aggressive Verticillium species and may be used as a biological control (Davis et al. 2000, Heinz and Platt 2000). (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
