Control measures

Various measures can restrict the spread of silver scurf without entirely preventing its development:

Prior to planting and during the growing season:

• destruction of susceptible crop residues and weeds before planting;
• use of healthy seed tubers;
• seed treatment: certain seed fungicide treatments on seed tubers may have a positive effect on the skin quality of daughter tubers;
• crop rotation and avoidance of cultivars that are too susceptible (thin-skinned cultivars); o reduction of the delay between haulm destruction and harvest (which should be done as soon as the skin is set).

At harvest and during storage:

• thorough disinfection of storage areas before use;
• dry tubers thoroughly to encourage rapid healing of the wounds and to limit disease development;
• store in suitable conditions (low temperature and limited air moisture);
• limit the effects of condensation during storage and when taking tubers out of storage as the disease may develop rapidly after cold storage if the conditions are favourable (saturation point humidity and temperature over 6-8°C).