[2] The disease has become economically important because silver scurf affected potatoes for processing and direct consumption have been rejected by the industry.

Silver scurf is a plant disease of potato, which is caused by the anamorphic ascomycete fungus, Helminthosporium solani.

[4] Another way that silver scurf can be diagnosed is through molecular techniques, such as PCR and sequencing to identify the presence of the pathogen.

However, the symptoms develop and worsen due relatively humid and warm temperatures in storage, since these conditions are conducive to sporulation.

[4] It was believed that overwintering soil-borne inoculum wasn’t important in the disease cycle, but recent studies suggest H.solani may survive in the soil for a short period of time, which can cause more infection.

These practices include: the level of H. solani present on the seed, planting and harvesting dates, crop rotations and warehouse management.

[3] It is also possible for the pathogen to spread by growing through the roots of a potato plant to the developing tubers and cause infection.

The discoloration on the periderm of the potato is formed from the loss of pigmentation caused by extreme dryness of the cell and suberin deposition.

[10] Not much is currently known about the molecular aspects of the mechanism for spread and infection of the disease, but there is currently ongoing research on this pathogen to gain a better understanding.

[12] TBZ is low toxicity and is used to prevent or control silver scurf for short time period, e.g. several months, with no effect on quality or retention of residues.

[12] The TBZ fungicide used to be very effective until 1977 when TBZ-resistant H. solani isolates were found in potato stores, as post-harvest treatment.

[13] TBZ resistance in H. solani resulted from a point mutation of a single base at codon 198 from glutamic acid to glutamine, or alanine, in the b-tubulin.

[14] This mutation functions in avoiding TBZ and other benzimidazole fungicides from binding to the H. solani b-tubulin gene thus results in TBZ-resistant phenotypes.

One of the major reasons for the increasing economic importance of silver scurf is the lack of high levels of resistance in potato cultivars.

[4] Soil types influenced the development of silver scurf to a great extent, both at harvest season and the following three-month storage period.

[19] The results from experimental trials revealed a significant negative correlation between silver scurf disease severity, and soil NO3 content and Fe availability.

[4] A fungus of the genus Cephalosporium (now renamed Acremonium strictum) was able to decrease the dissemination of silver scurf in storage.

[citation needed] When silver scurf was first found in Moscow in 1871, it was considered as a minor plant disease.

[2] After an increase in silver scurf incidence from America, Europe, Middle East, Africa, China, and New Zealand since 1968, the disease was later considered a pathogen of major importance.

[4] With growing consumer demands for attractive appearance in fresh market cultivars, silver scurf on potatoes with blemishes and discoloration have been rejected by the industry.