Potato hollow heart disease

(disease diagnosis) occurs more frequently in larger potato lumps. At the beginning, the central tissue of potato blocks was waterlogged or transparent, and brown necrotic spots appeared in some centers. In the later stage, a cavity was formed near the center of the tuber. Most of the cavities are lens-shaped or star-shaped, and their edges are mostly angular; some cracks appear in the interior of the tuber; and some hollow shapes are spherical or irregular. The inner wall of the cavity is white, light brown to straw yellow, forming an incomplete cork layer. Usually, the cavity expands as the tuber grows. Sometimes mold can be seen in the hollow, but it rarely causes decay.

(etiology) is a physiological disease. It is often caused by the rapid development of tuber and uneven tissue expansion. There are many reasons for this phenomenon: first, when the plant population structure is unreasonable, the growth of some potato blocks is too exuberant, the development of internal and external tissue is uneven, and the hollow is often serious; second, the lack of potash fertilizer, potash fertilizer below the critical content may be one of the factors prone to hollow. Third, when the water supply is unreasonable, the lack of water in the early stage, and then suddenly become suitable for rapid growth of environmental conditions, will also induce tubers to produce hollow. In these situations, the hollow is the most serious when the growing season or cultivation management is suitable for the rapid expansion of potato pieces. It is clear that the hollow heart rate of fast-growing tubers is higher than that of slower-growing tubers. On the other hand, reducing the distance between plants, increasing the amount of potassium fertilizer and reasonable fertilizer and water management can reduce the incidence of hollow. The incidence of disease is different among different varieties.

(control measures) (1) planting resistant varieties with low incidence. (2) reasonable density, avoid seedling shortage, adjust the distance between plants, increase the competition between plants, so as to prevent the excessive growth and expansion of tubers and reduce the incidence of hollow. (3) strengthen the cultivation management, ensure the water supply of plant growth, avoid the imbalance of drought and waterlogging, and promote the balanced and consistent development rate of tubers. (4) increase the application of potash fertilizer and reduce the incidence of hollow.