Introduction

The potato crop can be classified depending on final destination (e.g. processed, fresh [e.g. washed and pre-packed] and seed market) or according to the maturity type (viz. first early, second early, maincrop, etc.) (Ivins and Bremner 1965). Potato tubers destined for fresh market can be kept up to ten months under optimum postharvest cold storage conditions including temperatures lower than 4 °C, high relative humidity (ca., 98% RH) and controlled air ventilation. These conditions not only ensure good wound healing but also control and reduce both pathogen and sprout development during storage (Olsen 2014).

The potato crop can be classified depending on final destination (e.g. processed, fresh [e.g. washed and pre-packed] and seed market) or according to the maturity type (viz. first early, second early, maincrop, etc.) (Ivins and Bremner 1965). Potato tubers destined for fresh market can be kept up to ten months under optimum postharvest cold storage conditions including temperatures lower than 4 °C, high relative humidity (ca., 98% RH) and controlled air ventilation. These conditions not only ensure good wound healing but also control and reduce both pathogen and sprout development during storage (Olsen 2014).

The potato crop can be classified depending on final destination (e.g. processed, fresh [e.g. washed and pre-packed] and seed market) or according to the maturity type (viz. first early, second early, maincrop, etc.) (Ivins and Bremner 1965). Potato tubers destined for fresh market can be kept up to ten months under optimum postharvest cold storage conditions including temperatures lower than 4 °C, high relative humidity (ca., 98% RH) and controlled air ventilation. These conditions not only ensure good wound healing but also control and reduce both pathogen and sprout development during storage (Olsen 2014).

The disease has become a growing concern due to its impact on potato crops worldwide. This section also highlights its increasing prevalence and the need for effective management strategies.

Materials and Methods

C. coccodes not only causes tuber blemish symptoms but also symptoms on the stems and foliage leading to crop losses and yield reduction, even though the effects on yield might not always be consistently observed (Pasche et al. 2010). The disease cycle is complex since both sclerotia and conidia are able to infect potato plants (Ingram 2008). The sclerotia of C. coccodes can survive for at least eight years in the field (Dillard and Cobb 1998) but they can also survive on seed tubers, and crop debris. Moreover, fungal colonisation can occur in roots, stolons, stems, and daughter tubers by internal growth of mycelial hyphae (Lees and Hilton 2003).

Results and Discussion

The findings of the study are presented and critically analyzed in this section.

Conclusion

Summarizes the study's implications and offers recommendations for future research.