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Ecology and Epidemiology

Transmission of Verticillium dahliae in Potato Tubers. A. Nachmias, Agricultural Research Organization, Gilat Experiment Station, Mobile Post ha Negev 2, Israel; J. Krikun, Agricultural Research Organization, Gilat Experiment Station, Mobile Post ha Negev 2, Israel. Phytopathology 74:535-537. Accepted for publication 27 December 1983. Copyright 1984 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-74-535.

Studies were undertaken to establish if a relationship exists between foliar symptoms and tuber infection caused in potato by Verticillium dahliae. Examination of a large number of cultivars showed that there was no correlation between foliar symptoms and tuber infection or yield. Furthermore, year-to-year fluctuations of tuber infection were large. A proposal is made that potato seed certification be based on serological tuber examination and not on the foliar symptoms incited by the pathogen.