Occurrence of Potato Powdery Scab Caused by Spongospora subterranea in Korea

Potato tubers with scab lesions were found in several regions of Gangwon province in Korea during disease surveys in 2000 and 2001. The lesions appeared as shallow scabs with torn and raised skin around the periphery of the lesion. Sometimes the lesions expanded on tuber surface and formed hollowed-out areas. The causal organism was identified as Spongospora subterranea based on morphological characteristics using light and electron microscope. Ten cultivars of potato were evaluated to select resistant cultivars against powdery scab. Among the 10 cultivars, Jowon, Superior, and Atlantic were resistant, while Sephody, Gawon, and Irish Cobbler were susceptible to powdery scab. In the pathogenicity test, typical symptoms of powdery scab were formed on potato tubers, and galls developed on root hairs. This is the first report of powdery scab of potato caused by S. subterranea in Korea.