Estimation of Yield Loss Due to Potato Late Blight in Lukanga Village of Lubero Territory/Democratic Republic of the Congo

Late Blight is one of important diseases of potato. This disease is present in the agro-ecological environment of Lubero. As a matter of concern, this study aims at assessing the level of tolerance of three potato varieties to this disease and estimating the loss in yield. For this reason, an experiment was carried out in the experimental field of the Faculty of Agronomic Sciences of the Adventist University of Lukanga in the main season of 2023, with an experimental device with complete random blocks. Three potato varieties (Carolus, Kinigi and Sarpo mira) were used with fungicide treatment and non-treatment to estimate the yield loss due to Late Blight. The data concerned the rate of attack of foliar Late Blight and the parameters of potato yield under natural infection. The results showed that tolerance varies from a variety to another, considering the three varieties and is very significant (p<0.001). The Carolus variety was more susceptible with a value of the area under the disease progression curve (AUDPC = 1030) and the Sarpo mira variety the most resistant (AUDPC = 0.000). For the loss of yield, it also varies depending on varieties and is proportional to the susceptibility to foliar Late Blight. It was between 2 and 70% respectively for Sarpo mira and Carolus. Sarpo mira variety, being the most resistant, must both be used for sustainable agriculture that respects the environment and taken in potato breeding program.