When conditions become wet and cool, the slow growth of potato tubers can cause them to become susceptible to bacterial soft rot. This can cause plant cells to deteriorate and make seed pieces weak or even prevent them from establishing a healthy canopy. When plants grow at different rates a large size distribution of tubers can be seen in the field at harvest. We are interested in obtaining samples of bacterial rots to characterize what types are present in potato tubers. If you suspect bacterial rot, please contact me or send me a sample of a few tubers. When planting in wet conditions we encourage practices that encourage the quickest emergence from the soil, such as shallower planting and smaller hills. Planting whole seed or seed that has suberized will also reduced the risk.