The number of herbicide injury problems in potato are more common place, causing many questions by potato growers. Injury from herbicides can be a result of soil carryover, herbicide residues in seed, or exposure of plants to herbicides. As a result, potatoes can have poor emergence, chlorosis, necrosis, growth reduction, misshapen tubers, reduced yield and nonacceptable residues. The objective of this presentation is to demonstrate various herbicide injury symptoms to assist potato growers in improved identification. Soil carryover symptoms can include wide areas in the field with symptoms, slow emergence of plants, roots that are pruned or brown or bottle brushed, stunting of plants once emerged, shortened stolons, early tuber set or malformed tubers. Symptoms of residues in seed include erratic and slow emergence, no dominate stem, malformed leaves, enlarged stems, shortened internodes, or unnatural growth. Symptoms of in-season exposure can be manifested as misshapen leaves, yellowing of leaves, elongated leaflets and cracking or malformed tubers. Determining if injury is caused by herbicides or another source will be important in managing and marketing potatoes.
The number of herbicide injury problems in potato are more common place, causing many questions by potato growers. Injury from herbicides can be a result of soil carryover, herbicide residues in seed, or exposure of plants to herbicides. As a result, potatoes can have poor emergence, chlorosis, necrosis, growth reduction, misshapen tubers, reduced yield and nonacceptable residues. The objective of this presentation is to demonstrate various herbicide injury symptoms to assist potato growers in improved identification. Soil carryover symptoms can include wide areas in the field with symptoms, slow emergence of plants, roots that are pruned or brown or bottle brushed, stunting of plants once emerged, shortened stolons, early tuber set or malformed tubers. Symptoms of residues in seed include erratic and slow emergence, no dominate stem, malformed leaves, enlarged stems, shortened internodes, or unnatural growth. Symptoms of in-season exposure can be manifested as misshapen leaves, yellowing of leaves, elongated leaflets and cracking or malformed tubers. Determining if injury is caused by herbicides or another source will be important in managing and marketing potatoes.