Effectiveness of potato late blight (Phytophthora infestans) forecast by meteorological estimation in mountainous terrain based on CARAH rules

Abstract

Potato late blight (PLB) caused by Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary, its incidence and development are highly dependent on meteorological conditions. To solve the problem of PLB in mountainous terrain under the condition of limited meteorological monitoring capability, the air temperature and humidity was estimated based on the basic meteorological datasets, the forecast effect of the onset period and infection cycle of PLB based on CARAH rules was evaluated. The average MAE, RMSE and CI of the estimated air temperature and observations were 1.17 °C, 1.52 °C and 0.95, respectively. The average MAE, RMSE and CI of the estimated relative humidity and observations were 8.0 %, 10.7 % and 0.53, respectively. The curve of the infection cycle of PLB at different locations were estimated from the basic meteorological datasets based on the CARAH rules, and the false alarm and missing ratios were 8.8 % and 4.6 % respectively. It may be delayed by 1 or 2 fungal generations compared to the observations, and then the protective fungicide should be adjusted to a systemic fungicide. The false alarm of the infection cycle of PLB may increase in dry air conditions, and the missing report may occur in humid condition.

Keywords: Air relative humidity; Air temperature; CARAH rules; Forecast; Potato late blight.