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Physiological leaf roll in potatoes

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[Disease diagnosis] The symptoms of physiological leaf roll and viral leaf roll share certain similarities. The main manifestation is the upward curling of the leaflets. Usually the lower leaves of the plant, or all the leaves of the whole plant, become brittle and curl upward into a tube shape. In some cases only the leaf margins curl slightly upward; in others the curling is severe, forming a spoon shape or tube shape. In severe cases, the leaves become thicker, brittle and hard, and darker and more intense in color, giving a feeling of a messy, clustered clump. The characteristic of physiological leaf roll is that the leaf rolling shown by affected plants is relatively uniform. [Cause] There are several causes of physiological leaf roll: for example, excessive one-sided application of nitrogen fertilizer,

[Disease diagnosis] The symptoms of physiological leaf roll and viral leaf roll share certain similarities. The main manifestation is the upward curling of the leaflets. Usually the lower leaves of the plant, or all the leaves of the whole plant, become brittle and curl upward into a tube shape. In some cases only the leaf margins curl slightly upward; in others the curling is severe, forming a spoon shape or tube shape. In severe cases, the leaves become thicker, brittle and hard, and darker and more intense in color, giving a feeling of a messy, clustered clump. The characteristic of physiological leaf roll is that the leaf rolling shown by affected plants is relatively uniform.

[Cause] There are several causes of physiological leaf roll: for example, excessive one-sided application of nitrogen fertilizer, dry soil, lack of water, high temperature, or poor root development, root damage, and other factors that obstruct water absorption, etc., often weaken the plant's physiological functions and affect its metabolic capacity, so that the export of carbohydrates from the leaves is weakened, and starch grains accumulate excessively in the leaves, causing them to age, thicken, and curl upward. When the water supply to the plant roots is insufficient, if high temperature occurs, the amount of water transpired from the leaf surface often exceeds the amount absorbed. When supply falls short of demand, the plant instinctively protects itself through regulatory mechanisms, causing the lower leaves to curl and reducing the transpiring area.

[Control measures] (1) Strengthen management, cultivate strong seedlings, promote root development, and improve the roots' absorption capacity. (2) Avoid excessive soil dryness, irrigate in good time, and ensure the water needed for the plant's physiological functions. (3) Apply sufficient organic fertilizer and do not apply nitrogen fertilizer one-sidedly. (4) After physiological leaf roll occurs, promptly adjust the soil conditions in a targeted way and promote normal plant growth, such as by lowering the temperature, irrigating, and spraying micronutrient fertilizers, which can provide some relief.

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