Prevalence and Development of Potato Ditylenchiasis in Belarus

The stem nematode (Ditylenchus destructor Thorne, 1945) is the causative agent of ditylenchiasis and occupies one of the first places in harmfulness among potato phytohelminth infections and causes significant damage to the crop both in the growing season and storage. The stem nematode is widespread in all areas where potatoes are cultivated and has a quarantine status for many countries. To study ditylenchiasis spread and development in 2019-2023, route surveys of tubers were conducted at typical potato storage houses in Belarus. The results of phytosanitary monitoring of tubers showed an annual increase in their damage by ditylenchiasis. It was determined that the prevalence rate in tubers varied from 0.1 to 3.3% in the preplanting period. We found that the first signs of tuber damage by stem nematode were observed already during the harvesting period. The prevalence rate of ditylenchiasis on potato tubers of new crop when grown in the artificial infectious background can reach 46.7%. The largest number of tubers damaged by the phytohelminth was found in the early Lilea variety, and the smallest number, in the late Vectar variety. The prevalence of the disease increased for the storage period by an average of 1.8, and the development, by 8.8, with the maximum rate of infection development in the first two months of storage.