Objective  Safety and efficacy of applying vomitoxin to control soilborne diseases on potato plants were investigated.

  Method   In a laboratory experiment, vomitoxin (aka deoxynivalenol, DON) was applied on the Atlantic variety potato to determine the disease resistance to and physiological alternations induced by some major soilborne pathogens on the plant for treatment optimization.

  Result  Within a range of concentrations, DON caused no significant ill-effects on the potato plants. A treatment of it at 5 ng·mL⁻¹ for 4 h effectively inhibited the spread of bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum, soft rots by Erwinia chrysanthemi, or scabies by Streptomyces scabies on the leaves, and at a dosage of 3 ng·mL⁻¹, the growth of dry rot pathogen Fusarium sambucinum was retarded. The strongest DON-induced resistance against the bacterial wilt or dry and soft rots of the plant was found at 25 ℃ and pH 7, and against scabies at pH 9. With an exposure of 12 000 lx light, the DON-induction on the plants reached the greatest efficacy against the dry rots. Whereas, under 15 000 lx, that could be achieved on the bacterial wilt, soft rots, and scabies. A DON treatment significantly raised the SOD activity and lignin content but lowered MDA in the leaves.

  Conclusion  Application of DON as an elicitor in low concentrations exerted no adverse effect but significantly inhibit some major soilborne diseases on potato plants. A potential venue for preventing and treating the diseases seemed merit further investigation.