M. Hermeziu
National Institute of Research and Development for Potato and Sugar Beet Brasov is working constantly to create new potato cultivars adapted to changing climatic conditions, with high yield and resistance to diseases, suitable to the quantitative and qualitative demands of consumers. Field experiments were carried out in the years 2018 - 2019 using a complete randomized block design with four replicates. Planting was made on 19 April 2018 and on 4 April 2019. In all cases, cultivation and maintenance was in line with current good agricultural practice. Eight Romanian potato cultivars ('Castrum', 'Sarmis', 'Marvis', 'Brașovia', 'Sevastia', 'Christian', 'Asinaria' and 'Cezarina') were examined regarding the foliage and tuber susceptibility to late blight and the disease development during the season. Late blight appeared on July 3, 2018, relatively late compared to previous years. The significant quantities of rainfall and the favourable temperatures of June, when an average of 18.1°C was recorded, provided the necessary conditions for the onset of the late blight epidemic. In 2019 the first late blight spots were observed very early, on May 30 to the 'Brasovia' cv. The relatively high volume of rainfall in May and June, together with the optimum temperatures, led, in addition to the development of plants, to the attack of foliar diseases, whose control was relatively difficult. In 2018, 'Christian' cultivar showed the lowest level of foliage resistance, followed by 'Brasovia', 'Castrum' and 'Sarmis' cultivars presented a medium level of resistance. The cultivars 'Sevastia', 'Asinaria' and 'Marvis' were situated towards the upper limit of the resistance. In 2019 from the studied cultivars, 'Asinaria' and 'Cezarina' have the lowest attack level, followed by 'Braşovia', 'Castrum' and 'Sarmis. Sevastia, 'Marvis' and 'Christian' cultivars were the most susceptible to late blight.
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