Just a few random shoots of my potato plants are doing this, (wilting) the others look fine.
1 Like
Could some varmint be digging down there in the roots?
Doesn’t look like it.
Research potato leafroll virus. I assume the soil is being kept evenly moist.
This site has a list of possible potato problems. Potato Growing Problems and Solutions
Could be wireworms or Japanese beetle larva. Hope it helps.
Robert
Wireworms are doubtful since the tubers look good, albeit a bit smaller than I hoped for.
You are right. I latched on to the word “tunnels”. Never had anything hollow out my potato stems.
That is an infections potato virus, probably in the “Y” family. It can’t be cured once the plant is infected. It propagates in the tubers so be careful not to plant from an infected source. There are a few varieties that are moderately resistant.
3 Likes
Do you think it’s the sort of disease that lingers in the soil?
I got a bit of it last year, too, but it didn’t stop me from harvesting some monster potatoes.
It is not soil borne. Most of the viruses that affect solanums (eggplant, pepper, potato, tomato) overwinter in other species, then are spread by feeding insects in the spring. Fungal diseases on the other hand tend to overwinter in soil, then spread to plants from rain splash or to directly infect roots. These are generalizations so there are exceptions.
1 Like