Influence of oxygen concentration and storage factors on susceptibility of potato tubers to bacterial soft rot (Erwinia carotovora)

Potato tubers were injected with 10 μl of each of six inoculum levels (from 1 · 106 to 5 · 109 cells ml) ofErwinia carotovora var.atroseptica (van Hall) Dye. Analysis of the Weibull plot indicated that the bacteria acted independently and that all tubers were equally susceptible to decay. The amount of decay was significantly higher at 2% than at 6 and 10% oxygen. Under aerobic conditions at 22°C the bacteria multiplied quickly for no longer than 24 h but in a nitrogen atmosphere populations increased rapidly for 72 h at which time decay symptoms appeared.