b"sour milkhence the name sour rot,Duellman and Willbur have both found Duellman says, adding that rubbery rotthat there seems to be minimal spread of infected tubers are inedible. rubbery rot of it from infected tubers in In potatoes, rubbery rot isnt commonstorage. from what researchers can find. DuellmanIn Willburs research she looked discovered some reports of it in the lateinto Geotrichum candidum sour rot 1960s and to date it hasnt been foundreports from other crops such as sweet in Canada based on her research. Therepotatoes, finding that general guidance on have been reports of it internationallyreducing incidence of infection is to plant though in the United Kingdom, Korea andpotatoes in well-draining fields and avoid Belarus. harvesting in wet field conditions. There isnt much researchers knowGeotrichum candidum is often a about rubbery rot. Duellman has found itssecondary organism that is more of an not something that occurs often. It seemsopportunistic pathogen. It is a soil borne to come in later in the season near harvestorganism and can be quite prevalent in and affects tubers that are sitting in moistthe soil as well. But it appears to be taking soils for longer periods of time.advantage of those highly favourable, We don't really know exactly howwaterlogged conditions to then infect it spread. It's in the soil naturally, itsthrough natural openings in the tuber, occurring there anyhow, so we think it'sWillbur says.probably a combination of the pathogenIn Willburs lab they tested Geotrichum being present in the soil, the potatocandidum by inoculating it into healthy being susceptible, and then the righttubers. They discovered rubbery rot environment seems to be the magicaldevelopment required a very moistPotato tubers infected with rubbery rot. key, Duellman explains. environment to infect the tuber. PHOTO: VIVIANA RIVERPlanter FillerLive Bottom Potato Floors- 30- 36 Wide Telescoping Boom Planter - Light Weight Alum. + UHMW DesignFillers and Mini Pillers - Variable Speed Belt Control- Gensets Available for On Field Use - Simple One Peice UnitW: generalmetal.caPh: 1 (866) 325-9374E: [email protected] Even-Flow BinsSelf-Unloading Bulk Beds- 18-30 Length- 800 Bag Capacity- Painted Steel or Stainless Steel - Adjustible Roof System - Several Unloading Belt Options - Available With Stingers- Various Tarp Options - 72 Elevator Belt and 60 Discharge BeltSPUDSMART.COM Winter 202315"