Gangwon Agricultural Technology Institute Urges Proactive Prevention of Highland Potato Blight in Farming Communities

(Chuncheon=Yonhap News) By Yang Ji-woong = Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Agricultural Technology Institute urged farming areas to thoroughly prevent potato blight ahead of the rainy season.

Particularly in the main seed potato cultivation areas of Gangneung Wangsan-myeon, Pyeongchang Daegwallyeong-myeon, and Hongcheon Nae-myeon, thorough management is required to prevent potato blight damage.

Potato blight is a fungal disease that easily occurs in environments with temperatures between 10-24 degrees and relative humidity over 80%.

Within 3-4 weeks of onset, stems and leaves completely dry out and die, and underground potatoes do not grow large enough, requiring total disposal.

With frequent rain forecast for next month when potato tuber stems grow, concerns about blight occurrence are high.

To minimize blight damage, it is recommended to cover the soil sufficiently to prevent tuber stems from emerging.

After carefully examining the field, if blight has not yet occurred, protective fungicides should be sprayed; if already present, curative fungicides should be used.

Currently, 40 types of protective fungicides are registered for potato blight, including dimethomorph wettable powder and fluazinam liquid wettable powder, while 24 types of curative fungicides include mancozeb wettable powder and chlorothalonil wettable powder.

Appropriate prevention measures should be established and agents sprayed considering the disease stage and weather conditions.

Potato Research Institute Director Park Jong-yeol stated on the 16th, "Since potato blight spreads quickly, spraying fungicides before and after is effective when rain is forecast for more than two days," and urged, "Please refer to the agricultural chemical safety information system and spray the appropriate amount according to safety standards."

yangdoo@yna.co.kr