Investigation of Fungal Diseases of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in Duhok Province, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

Majeed, Goran Rashid

doi:10.33899/rjs.2025.162086.1479

	Investigation of Fungal Diseases of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in Duhok Province, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
Rafidain Journal of Science
Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 12 August 2025
Document Type: Research Paper
DOI: 10.33899/rjs.2025.162086.1479
Author
Goran Rashid Majeed^*
Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources/Dohuk Agricultural General Directorate/Bardarash Agricultural Directorate.
Abstract
This study identified prevalent fungal pathogens affecting potato crops in Duhok province, in three locations including Bardarash, Rovia, and Shekhan, on cultivars (Arizona, Rashida, and Primabelle) during the 2024-2025 growing season. Field surveys recorded symptoms on leaves, stems, roots, and tubers. Symptomatic tissues were collected for pathogen isolation and identification via morphological characteristics and molecular analysis (ITS region sequencing). The confirmed fungi were registered in NCBI GenBank. Field assessments revealed stark differences among cultivars. Key pathogens identified included Alternaria solani, A. alternata (Early Blight), Phytophthora infestans (Late Blight), Fusarium solani, F. oxysporum (Dry rot/Wilt), and Rhizoctonia solani (Black Scurf/Stem Canker). Other fungi (Clonostachys solani, Allophoma labilis, Aspergillus flavus, Trichocladium acropullum, Penicillium punicae, Fusarium concentricum, Phytophthora colocasiae, and Aspergillus oryzae) were detected at lower frequencies. This research marks the first combined field survey and molecular examination of fungal pathogens affecting major potato varieties in Bardarash, Rovia, and Shekhan, Duhok province. Disease symptoms were identified and confirmed through visual inspection and genetic analysis. Results indicated that Rhizoctonia species were more prevalent in all three surveyed areas and across different parts of the potato crop. This confirms the prevalence of pathogens such as Alternaria spp. and P. infestans. And highlights different levels of susceptibility among cultivars. In Bardarash and Rovia, Primabelle was identified as highly susceptible, while Rashida and Arizona appeared to be resistant in Bardarash, Rovia, and Shekhan under field conditions. These findings are crucial for developing targeted integrated disease management strategies, including the selection of resistant cultivars, to support potato cultivation.
Keywords
Potato fungal diseases; Alternaria; Phytophthora; molecular identification

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