Early Blight and White Mold: Two Devastating Diseases, One Right Decision
(Sponsored) Disease management is a constant concern for potato growers, as the threat of yield and quality losses looms each season. Among the most persistent disease challenges are early blight and white mold, which can quietly steal yield potential long before harvest.
“Early blight and white mold are two diseases that most growers can count on seeing just about every year,” says Jeff Miller, Research Scientist at Miller Research.
When those diseases show up, preparation often determines the difference between an average crop and a great one.
Early Blight
“Early blight and its relative, brown spot, are foliar diseases, and you get these leaf spots that can cause the leaves to die prematurely, and it can cause a significant reduction in yield,” says Miller.
Research from U.S. potato-growing regions shows that early blight alone can reduce yields by as much as 20% under severe pressure.1 This disease tends to flare up when plants are stressed, whether that’s from growing conditions, nutrient deficiency or physical damage. Cycles of wet and dry conditions are ideal for early blight infection. The disease starts on older leaves and quickly moves throughout the canopy, robbing the plant of photosynthetic area when it’s needed for bulking.
White Mold
White mold, caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, prefers dense, lush canopies that contain moisture. Irrigation or rainy periods during bloom are especially conducive to disease progression, since the disease can spread from fallen infected petals landing on stems.
“White mold can cause the stems to die, you get lesions on the stem and then the plant can’t put any more carbohydrates down to the tuber,” says Miller.
Managing disease effectively
Smart cultural practices form the foundation of disease management in potatoes. Crop rotation with non-host crops (e.g. corn or small grains), avoiding excessive nitrogen that leads to overly dense canopies and careful irrigation management all reduce disease risk. In addition to these management practices, fungicide application remains a critical layer of protection.
Enter Endura® PRO Fungicide: Dual Power for Dual Threats
Endura PRO fungicide builds on the trusted foundation of Endura (boscalid), which has been relied upon for white mold management for years in potatoes. Endura PRO fungicide adds Revysol® (mefentrifluconazole), a next-generation DMI fungicide with exceptional activity against early blight and brown spot.
“What sets Endura PRO fungicide apart is the newest active ingredient we’ve added — Revysol,” says Curtis Rainbolt, Technical Service Representative at BASF. “It brings a new mode of action and a very high level of against early blight, while also boosting white mold activity.”
This combination delivers two proven modes of action, giving growers broad-spectrum protection while also helping them to manage resistance.
Hear from Curtis Rainbolt about what Endura PRO fungicide brings to potato growers.
Field Results That Speak for Themselves
In field trials, Endura PRO fungicide has shown consistent performance on both disease management and yield.
“One of the things that really stands out is just how consistent it has been,” says Rainbolt. “Whether that’s looking at early blight protection, white mold , or potato yields, it’s nearly always been at the top or very near the top in our field research trials.”
Jeff Miller has similar observations in using premium fungicides to battle disease.
“Through the years, as we’ve looked at the severity of early blight and the effect it has on yield, we can almost, on average, guarantee about a 4 to 5 percent increase which has been very, very consistent,” says Miller. “Even in years where the early blight doesn’t seem to be too severe, using these fungicides does provide a yield increase.”
Hear from research scientist Jeff Miller on his experiences with Endura PRO fungicide.
Timing and Fit in the Season
For Endura PRO fungicide, two applications — one at row closure and another two weeks later — has proven to be an effective program for managing foliar disease and protecting yield. Starting early, before disease takes hold, allows the fungicide to help protect healthy tissue and prevent further spread.
The Bottom Line
Early blight and white mold aren’t going away. They’re persistent challenges that potato growers must manage. But with the right combination of cultural practices and a modern dual-action fungicide like Endura PRO fungicide, growers can proactively mitigate these disease threats.
For 2026, Endura PRO fungicide can bring a new level of confidence to potato growers, helping them to protect the profitability of every acre. To try Endura PRO fungicide this season, contact your local retailer or BASF representative. Learn more by visiting our website.
Always read and follow label directions. Endura is a registered trademark of BASF. ©2025 BASF Agricultural Solutions US LLC. All rights reserved.
¹ Wharton, P. (2015, October 23). Potato diseases: Early blight (Bulletin E2991). MSU Extension. https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/potato_diseases_early_blight_e2991
