Enhancing Potato Late Blight Control: Triffa Plain Model Assessment (Eastern Morocco)

Abstract

Potato late blight Phytophthora infestans is a serious potato disease. In eastern Morocco and more precisely in the Triffa plain, late blight ravages potato fields, causing severe losses of up to 80%. Chemical control remains the most effective, easiest and most commonly used means of control by farmers in the region. However, abusive use and the high frequency of treatments pose real problems for consumers and the environment. The objective of this work was to test certain downy mildew monitoring models for better optimization of fungicide use. A study was carried out in the Triffa plain to test potato late blight monitoring models on three potato varieties, Mondial, Désirée and Spunta. Two models have made it possible to save up to 50% of the costs linked to chemical treatments against mildew and, among other things, help to preserve the environment.