The efficacy of solar heat in the control of bacterial soft rot of potato tubers was investigated in Maiduguri, semi-arid region of Northeastern Nigeria. Artificially contaminated tubers were exposed to solar heat for duration of 0, 30, 60, 120 and 180 minutes. The results showed that exposures for 120 and 180 minutes gave the highest control of the disease, although during the hot dry season (mean temperature at exposure was 54.6°C) exposure even for 30 minutes gave satisfactory control of the disease. Solar heat can therefore be used to control of bacterial soft rot of potato tubers.
The efficacy of some plant extracts on the control of potato tuber soft rot caused by Erwinia carotovora ssp. carotovora was evaluated in the laboratory conditions. Neem leaf and seed aqueous extracts significantly reduced the incidence and severity of tuber soft rot, while ironweed and Siamese cassia aqueous leaf extracts gave moderate control of the disease. Tuber treatment with river redgum aqueous leaf extract did not control tuber soft rot.