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This map displays primary areas of potato cultivation and regionally average yields, by state, based on data provided by the Government of India Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Agriculture and Co-operation: “Statistics at a Glance.”  Data were obtained via surveys conducted in 2001–2002. 

Yield data are presented as average values for each state, although there is of course likely to be considerable variation within each (many much larger in population than most countries included in the atlas).  This averaging effect might account for apparently odd disparities between areas of very high reported yields adjacent to areas of much lower yields, such as the extreme northeast.

For further information on Potato Production click here  

1. Late blight occurrence and LB severity by major production area in the country. What crops were affected (tomato, potato, others)? Disease sources (seed, cull piles, volunteer plants, soil)?

Late blight occurs regularly in the northwestern hills of Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal; the northeastern hills of Shillong in Meghalaya and Darjeeling districts of west Bengal and Nilgiris in the southern hills; and in the Indo-Gangetic plains states of Punjab UP, Bihar and West Bengal. The disease is more severe and occurs more frequently in the northeastern hills where the weather is favorable to the pathogen

  Tomato is attacked by P.infestans mainly in hilly regions where infection from potato crop is carried over to tomato. It is a rare occurrence in the plains.

  Infected seed tubers are the main sources of infection both in hills and plains. In the hills the temperature in the country stores are quite favorable for the survival in seed tubers unto the next crop season. In the plains the pathogen survives in seed tubers which are stored in the cold stores at 2–4 ⁰ C. In Nilgiris in the south, the inoculum is carried over in the form of sporangia from one season to another mainly because of the presence of the potato crop round the year

2. LB impact (foliar damage, yield losses, tuber rot occurrences)?  

Under highly congenial conditions late blight appears in epiphytotic form and kills the entire foliage within a few days. Yield losses due to late blight varies from year to year and ranges from 19 65 % in eastern hills, 11-74 % in North western hills 10 -75 % in Eastern plains 20-40 m% in north western plains and 31-39 % in southern hills. Tuber rot is comparatively less in blight resistant varieties as compared to susceptible ones. Tuber infection is also more in large and medium sized tubers and in low-lying areas where drainage is poor.

  Late blight disease profile in sub-tropical plains (1998–99) (Singh and Shekhawat, 1999).

3. Fungicide use (amounts, types, etc.)?

Cultivar-specific fungicide schedules for both susceptible and resistant varieties have been developed for most of the popular cultivars in various regions, taking into account the time of appearance of the disease. Metalaxyl-based fungicides and mancozeb, with one to three sprays are used (Singh and Shekhawat, 1999).

4. Other LB control measures (resistant cultivars, forecast systems, none)?

Conventional breeding efforts have produced more than a dozen late blight resistant varieties, which have been deployed throughout the country.

  A forecasting model has been developed in India to determine the time of the first application of fungicides.

5. LB control effectiveness (fungicide or host resistance failures)?  

In the sub- tropical plains where blight favorable period is generally limited to 1-2 weeks, one spray each of metalaxyl based fungicides and mancozeb are required for controlling the late blight on susceptible varieties whereas 1-2 spray of mancozeb is sufficient on resistant varieties. In the hills where the conditions are highly congenial for late blight development, the requirement of fungicide is substantially high where best control, is obtained by two sprays each of metalaxyl based fungicides and mancozeb 

6. Pathogen strains (mating type, fungicide resistance, virulence factors, etc)?  

The A2 mating type was first detected in the northwestern hills in 1990 and since 1995 the P. infestans population has stabilized to approximately 90% A2. The A2 mating type has completely replaced the A1 in the northeastern hills, while the populations in the Indo-Gangetic plains are nearly 50% A1/A2 and there are regions where A2 has not yet been reported. Recent studies indicated that the A2 mating type is comparatively more aggressive than the A1 mating type.

Contrary to the situation in Europe, the A2 mating type strains in India are still susceptible to metalaxyl.

Complex P. infestans physiological races with four to eight avirulence genes have evolved and replaced the simple races in the hills, but races on the plains are less complex. In one study, A2 isolates were found to be more aggressive that A1.

Metalaxyl resistant isolates have been reported, but the resistance level is low (Singh and Shekhawat, 1999).

7. Disease risks and/or major needs?

Today late blight is a recurring phenomenon in the hilly regions. It appears in epiphytotic form every year and the entire crop is annihilated killed before it completes the full growth. The disease is more regular in the northeastern hills where the weather conditions become congenial for disease build up early in the season (May) and prevails over a longer period of time. In these areas more number of resistant varieties is required against late blight.

8. Any publications on late blight in the country?  

Arora, R.K. 1994. Aggressiveness in metalaxyl resistant and sensitive isolate of P.infestans. In: Potato Present and Future. G S Shekhawat, S M Paul Khurana, S K Pandey and V K Chandla (Eds.). Indian Potato association, Shimla. P.179-183

  Arora, R.K., Kamble, S.S., Gangawane, L. L. 1992. Resistance to metalaxyl in P.infestans in Nilgiri hills of Southem India. Phytophthora Newsletter 18: 8-9.

Bambawale, O.M. Bhattacharyya, S.K. Ravindran, C.D. 1991. Factors affecting potato late blight development in Punjab. Indian Phytopathology 44:319–324.

  Basu, A. Konar, A. Mukhopadhyay, S.K. Chettri, M. 2001. Biological management of late blight of potato using talc-based formulations of antagonists. Journal of the Indian Potato Association 28:80–81.

  Bhattacharyya, S.K., Singh, B.P., Sharma, V.C., Bambawale, O.M.,Arora, R.K., Singh, P.H. 1990. Mode of survival and source of primary inoculum of late blight of potato. Int.J.Tropical Pl. Dis. 8:78-88.

  De, B.K. Sengupta, P.C. 1991. Evaluation of fungicides against late blight disease of potato in plains of West Bengal. Journal of the Indian Potato Association 18:176–177.

Gopal J, B. P. Singh. 2002. Field Evaluation of Potato Germplasm for Foliage Resistance to Late Bight (Phytophthora infestans) (abs). pp 145 Lizárraga C (ed), Late blight: Managing the global threat. Proceedings of the Global Initiative on Late Blight Conference, Hamburg, Germany, 11–13 July 2002. International Potato Center, Lima, Peru.

Gupta, Hemant, 2000. Studies on late blight disease of potatoes and tomatoes caused by Phytophthora infestans. Pill Thesis CCS University, Meerut (India), 180 pages.

Gupta, Hemant., BP Singh, Jitendra Mohan, VC Sharma, B Prasad, KK Sharma and PH Singh, 1999. Metalaxyl resistance in Indian population of Phytophthora infestans. Abst. (psy 2.02). Global Conference on Potato, Dec. 6-11, 1999, New Delhi, India. Gupta, J. 2000. Variability and epidemiology of Phytophthora infestans affecting potatoes in India. Ph. D thesis. Rafi Ahmad Kidwai Institute of Agricultural Sciences. Aligarh Muslim University. Aligarh. p 172

  Gupta J, Singh B P. 2002. Comparative aggressiveness of Indian isolates of A1 and A2 mating types of Phytopthora infestans (abs). pp 141 in: Lizárraga C (ed), Late blight: Managing the global threat. Proceedings of the Global Initiative on Late Blight Conference, Hamburg, Germany, 11–13 July 2002. International Potato Center, Lima, Peru

Gupta, J. Singh, P.H. Kumar, D. Atheaya, E. Singh, B.P. 2001. Status of mating types and metalaxyl resistance in Phytophthora infestans population during 2000-2001. Journal of the Indian Potato Association 28:74–75.

Gupta, Jhilmil, Singh, B.P., Singh, P.H and Shekhawat, G.S 1999. Phytophthora infestans oospores and their role in the late blight epidemiology. Abstr. Global Conference on Potato, Dec. 6-11, 1999, New Delhi, India

Jeswani, M.D. Sharma, V.C. 1990. Prevalence and distribution of tuber diseases of seed potatoes in Western Uttar Pradesh. Journal of the Indian Potato Association 17:72–74.

  Joseph, T A, Birhman, Sood S K. 1999. Combining ability for field resistance to late blight in potato under temperate hills conditions of India (abs). pp. 120 in: Crissman L and Lizárraga C (eds), Late Blight: A threat to global food security. Proceedings of the Global Initiative on Late Blight Conference, Quito, Ecuador, 16–19 March 1999. International Potato Center, Lima, Peru.

Joseph, T.A. Gopal, J. Chauhan, H.S. 1994. Growth patterns of yield and its components in three advance stage potato selections in north-western hills. Journal of the Indian Potato Association 21:138–141.

  Kaushik, S.K, Singh, P.H., Singh, B.P., Jai Gopal and Birhman, R.K. 2000. Late blight resistance in Solanum tuberosum germplasm. In: Potato, Global Research & Development, Vol.1 (Eds. SM Paul Khurana et al.), Indian Potato Association, CPR!, Shimla, pp.603-06.

Khurana, S.M.P. Pandey, S.K. Patel, R.L. Singh, R.B. Pundir, V.S. Pathak, S.P. Pani, A.K. 1998. Surveillance for potato diseases in India over last five years. Journal of the Indian Potato Association 25:16–20.

  Pande, P.C. Luthra, S.K. 2001.Development of late blight resistant, medium maturing potato varieties. Journal of the Indian Potato Association 28:24–25.

Phadtare, S.C. Gopal, J. Singh, P.H. 2000. Kufri blight kanchan-a wart immune and late resistant red tuber potato variety. Journal of the Indian Potato Association 27:113–118.

Phukan, S.N. Baruah, C.K. 1991. Studies on the occurrence of physiologic races of Phytophthora infestans in the district of Lakhimpar, Assam. Indian Phytopathology 44:123–124.

Phukan, S.N. Baruah, C.K. 1991. Studies on the air spora over a potato field in relation to incidence of Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary. Advances in Plant Sciences 4:13–17.

Raj, H. Kandashwamy, C. 1993. Efficacy of spektrum against late blight of potato under field conditions. Indian Phytopathology 46:281–282.

Ram, S. 1992. Field resistance against late blight in North-eastern hill region. Journal of the Indian Potato Association 19:55–57.

Ritu Mahajan., B.P Singh., Ela Atheaya, P.H Singh., Brajesh Singh and G.S Shekhawat.2000. Leaf attributes as modifiers of resistance to late blight in potato. In: Potato, Global Research & Development, Vol.1 (Eds.: SM Paul Khurana, GS Shekhawat, BP Singh and SK Pandey. Indian Potato Association, Shimla. Pp-608-61 O.

Roy, S. Singh, B.P. Bhattacharya, S.K. Shekhawat, G.S. 1994. Green house evaluation of fungal antagonists against potato late blight. Indian Phytopathology 47:286.

Sekhon, P.S., Sokhi, S.S. 1998.Identity of mating types of P.infestans in cultures from potato and tomato. Indian Phytopath.51:237-239.

Sharma, K.K. 2000. Influence of meteorological factors on potato late blight development in north-western plains of India. Journal of the Indian Potato Association 27:1–3.

Sharma, K.K. 1992. Control of potato late blight with systemic and contact fungicidal mixtures in north west Indian plains. Journal of the Indian Potato Association 19:75–76.

Sharma, K.K., Singh, B.P. 1999. Occurrence of A₂ type of Phytophthora infestans in North-Western plains of India (abstr.). 51st Ann. Meet and National Symp. on Seed Healthcare and Phytosanitation for sustainable agriculture, pp.49.

Shekhawat, G.S., S.M. Paul Khurana and B.P. Singh 2000. Important diseases of potato and their management. In: Potato, Global Research & Development (Eds.: SM Paul Khurana, GS Shekhawat, BP Singh and SK Pandey. Indian Potato Association, Shimla. Pp. 281-303.

Singh, B.P. 2000. Status of late blight in sub-tropics. In: Potato (Eds.: SM Paul Khurana, GS Shekhawat, BP Singh and SK Pandey. Indian Potato Association, Shimla. Pp-525

Singh, B.P, S.K Kaushik and G.S Shekhawat, 2001. Slow Blighting in potato and its role in the management of potato late blight. In: Role of Resistance in Intensive Agriculture (Eds. S. Nagarajan and DP Singh) Kalyani Publishers, New Delhi, India, 1-11.

Singh, B.P., P.H Singh Jhilmil Gupta, and Lokendra Singh. 2001. Integrated management of late blight under Shimla hills. J. Indian Potato Assoc. 28 (1): 84- 85.

Singh, B.P. Ahmad, I. Sharma, V.C. Shekhawat, G.S. 2000. Jhulsacast: A computerized forecast of potato late blight in western Uttar Pradesh. Journal of the Indian Potato Association 27:25–34.

Singh, B.P. and Shekhawat, G.S. 1999. Potato late blight in India. Technical Bulletin No.27, Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla, India, pp. 85.

Singh, B.P. Singh, B. Roy, S. Sharma, K.K. Shekhawat, G.S. 1999. Bio-efficacy of antracol against potato late blight and its residues in tubers and soil. Journal of the Indian Potato Association 26:57–61.

Singh, B P, H Gupta, J Gupta and GS Shekhawat, 1999. Population dynamics and structure of potato late blight pathogen (Phytophthora infestans) in Indian Sub- tropics (abs). pp. 132–133 in: Crissman L and Lizárraga C (eds), Late Blight: A threat to global food security. Proceedings of the Global Initiative on Late Blight Conference, Quito, Ecuador, 16–19 March 1999. International Potato Center, Lima, Peru.

Singh, B.P., Roy, S. and Shekhawat, G.S. 1998. Status of mating types and metalaxyl resistance in Indian populations of Phytophthora infestans and formation of oospores in host tissue. In: 7th International Congress of Plant Pathology, Edinburgh, Scotland. 9-10 August 1998, pp.229.

Singh, B.P. Joseph, T.A. Roy, S. Sharma, H.C. Shekhawat, G.S. 1997. Reliability of seedling test for selection of field resistance to late blight in potato genotypes. Indian Phytopathology 50:382–386.

Singh, B.P., Hemant Gupta, Roy, S., Shekhawat, S. 1997. Ploidy status and its role in aggressiveness of Phytophthora infestans (abstr.). Indian Phytopathological Society-Golden Jubilee Int. Conf., Nov. 10-15, 1997, New Delhi p.518-006

Singh, B.P. Bhattacharyya, S.K. 1995. Field resistance to late blight of four Indian potato cultivars. Potato Research 38:171–178.

Singh, B.P. Birhman, R.K. 1994. Laboratory estimation of field resistance of potato to late blight. Journal of Phytopathology 140:71–76.

Singh, B.P. Roy, S. Bhattacharyya, S.K. 1994. Occurrence of the A2 mating type of Phytophthora infestans in India. Potato Research 37:227–231.

Singh, B.P. Roy, S. Bhattacharya, S.K. Shekhawat, G.S. 1994. Variability for mating types, fungicide resistance and races in Phytophthora infestans. Indian Phytopathology 47:287.

Singh, B.P., Roy, S. and Bhattacharyya, S.K. 1993. Late blight of potato. International Journal of Tropical Plant Diseases 11: 17-42.

Singh, B.P., Bhattacharya, S.K.1990.Appearance, build-up and spread of late blight in relation to source of inoculum. Indian Phytopath.43-393-400.

Singh, P.H. Singh, B.P. Gupta, J. Sikka, L.C. Pandey, S.K. 2001. Evaluation of late blight resistance in B-population of potato. Journal of the Indian Potato Association 28:92–93.

Singh, P.R, S.K Kaushik, T.A Joseph and B.P Singh, 2000. Status of late blight resistance and ploidy in Solanum verrucosum derived parental lines. In: Potato. Global Research & Development -Vo1.1 (Eds. SM Paul Khurana et aI). Indian Potato Association, CPRI, Shimla, pp.611-14

9. Is tuber blight an increasing problem?

Yes

Contact: Bir Pal Singh, Central Potato Research Institute Campus, Modipuram, Meerut, India. Email: prsm(at)vsnl.com

Links to World Potato Atlas (WPA)

http://research.cip.cgiar.org/confluence/display/wpa/India