Rizoktonioza ziemniaka – sprawca, przyczyny, objawy i zwalczanie

The potato is currently the fourth largest crop used to feed people worldwide. However, its production faces significant threats from biotic and abiotic diseases. One of the most dangerous diseases affecting potato crops is black scurf and rhizoctonia canker, caused by the fungus Rhizoctonia solani. This disease is challenging to control due to factors such as its presence in soil, numerous sources of infection (including infected tubers, soil, plant debris, and alternative hosts), genetic and pathogenic variability, and the long cultivation cycle of potatoes, which involves several stages that facilitate the disease’s transmission. Additionally, there are limited practical control measures available. This paper outlines the disease development cycle, its epidemiology, and the symptoms it causes depending on the specific form of the disease and the plant organ affected (such as tubers, stems, stolons, or leaves). It also includes information on recom­mended methods for integrated protection to manage R. solani effectively.