SURVEY OF BACTERIAL, FUNGAL AND VIRAL DISEASES OF POTATO (Solanum tuberosum L) IN AMPANG-WEST DISTRICT OF MANGU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA PLATEAU STATE

Ndor, Dombin Chirlak

Plateau State College of Agriculture,

P.M.B 001 Garkawa,Mikang L.G.A

Email: ndor.julna@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

A survey of bacterial, fungal and viral diseases of potato (Solanum tuberosum L) was conducted in August 2013 cropping season in some farms in villages of Ampang West District. The survey was carried out in six major villages by a random survey approach for selection of farms. The survey was carried out using Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with the villages considered as treatments and the farms as replicates. A picture book (CIP, 2009a) containing an overview and description of disease symptoms was used to help in field identification of the different diseases. Vascular flow test was also used to confirm bacterial infections. Percentage occurrences in the villages range from 1.29 to 6.03% infected by bacterial that by viral ranges from 4.39 to 18.40% and fungal infections ranges from 5.81 to 50.47%. There was a significant difference in percentage infections of these diseases amongst the villages. Level of infections were higher in Jirep village as compared to Ngo, Nga’al and Larpya villages, However infections by these diseases were statistically the same in Jirep Fwam and Chindom villages at 5% level of significance. These infections were attributed to the use of farmer’s saved seeds obtained from previous season recycle over and over the years. It is therefore, recommended that training the farmer’s on “select the best “(CIP 2009 b), a technique for seed selection in the production areas to reduce the multiple effects of these diseases. Government should also encourage the production of seed potatoes by private companies.