The Canadian Phytopathological Society La Société Canadienne de Phytopathologie |
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Agnet Feb. 27/04 Bacterial ring rot, potato - UK (Wales) February 26, 2004; A ProMED-mail post; http://www.promedmail.org; From: ProMED-mail; Source:Farming Life [edited]; http://www.farminglife.coml Ringrot Outbreak In Wales Contained Tracing and testing work associated with potato stocks at the farm in Wales, where an outbreak of potato ring rot was detected, has confirmed that the outbreak has been contained and that no other farms have grown or received infected stocks. More than 165 000 potato tubers were tested during the outbreak. On the outbreak farm, one stock of the Provento variety and one stock of a Provento/Almera admixture were found to be infected. Apart from these 2 stocks, all tests were negative, including for the remaining 20 seed potato stocks on the outbreak farm. The testing included: all potato stocks on the outbreak farm; other stocks of Provento from the United Kingdom 2003 harvest; other stocks of Almera from the UK 2003 harvest; seed potatoes from the UK 2003 harvest grown from 2002 stock from the outbreak farm; seed potatoes from stocks with a clonal link to stocks grown on the outbreak farm in previous years; seed potatoes on farms with a machinery link to the outbreak farm. A substantial testing programme was also carried out in the Netherlands, where the Provento seed potatoes grown on the outbreak farm originated. A Lessons Learned review will be initiated shortly, to assess the handling of this first outbreak, and UK controls against ring rot. This review is being planned in consultation with the National Farmers' Union (NFU) and will provide an opportunity for all those affected, including individuals, trade organisations and Government officials, to contribute their views. Ben Bradshaw, Plant Health Minister, said: "It is extremely good news that this outbreak has been contained. This is thanks to good co-operation with those in the industry and the substantial Government resources committed to the containment exercise." Potato ring rot is a serious disease and its establishment in the UK would have significant consequences for potato growers and others. "It is now time to take a step back to assess the handling of this outbreak and the controls that are in place against ring rot." -------------------- ProMED-mail; promed@promedmail.org [The attention to detail exercised by the those responsible for testing potato stocks is very impressive. Kudos to those who contained this outbreak of bacterial ring rot (caused by Clavibacter michiganensis ssp. sepedonicus). It will be very interesting to see what recommendations ensue from the final report of this incident. - Mod.DH]
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AgNet 20 November 2003 UK widens controls to keep out potato disease November 19, 2003, A ProMED-mail post, http://www.promedmail.org Britain's farm ministry on Wednesday said it was widening controls aimed at preventing an outbreak of a potentially devastating potato disease. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) stated that it was extending precautionary action against potato ring rot to 3 new farms known to have received seed potatoes of the same variety as those found to be infected on a Welsh farm last week. 3 farms based in the southwest of England were already subject to restrictions after being supplied with seed potatoes from the infected Welsh farm. A DEFRA spokeswoman said one of the 3 new farms facing checks was in the north of England, while the others were in the south. "This new information merely means that we get the opportunity to make checks -- it does not mean that the disease has spread," the DEFRA spokeswoman said. The bacterial pathogen, Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus, is widespread across Europe, having been identified in recent years in France, the Netherlands, and Denmark. The disease affects only potato yields and has no impact on human health. British growers produced 5.8 million tonnes of potatoes in 2003, a 13 percent drop from the previous year, according to recent British Potato Council data.
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AgNet 16 November 2003 Potato disease - more farms suspected November 15, 2003, A ProMED-mail
post, http://www.promedmail.org 3 more potato farms in the UK are under restriction after the world's most damaging potato disease was found on a mid Wales farm. The disease -- bacterial ring rot -- has never before been found in the UK. The source is at Middlewood Farm in Bwlch, near Brecon. The disease can be described as the potato equivalent of the epidemic foot-and-mouth disease of 2001. The discovery of the disease was confirmed during an annual survey for ring rot by the UK Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), and it is thought the disease was brought into Wales on infected Dutch seed. The additional farms now under restriction -- 1 in Wales and 2 in the Scilly Isles -- had all taken delivery of seed potatoes from the Middlewood Farm over the last few weeks. Defra officials believe the outbreak is under control, and that it will be contained and eradicated. Experts are also talking to Spanish authorities about 2 consignments exported to the Canary Islands Although ring rot poses no risk to human health, farmers leaders in Wales had said the news is a "massive blow" to the industry. By comparison, annual losses to US potato farmers caused by ring rot have been as high as 50 percent. Farmers are also worried about the effect on the seed market if the UK loses its disease-free status. John Morgan, the farmer at the centre of this outbreak said: "Obviously we're devastated at the news. We're working with the Welsh assembly locally and Defra plant officials to eradicate this disease." Officers from Defra , the Welsh assembly, and the Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate are meeting at the farm in the Brecon Beacons to assess the extent of the problem. It is likely crops will have to be burnt or buried. Meanwhile, experts are trying to trace any other movement of seed potatoes from the farm. It is known that the farm has exported to Spain and surrounding islands and supplies a vast area of Pembrokeshire, Wales' main potato production area. Countryside Minister Carwyn Jones has said he is following developments closely. "I can assure farmers that this is being taken extremely seriously by the Welsh Assembly Government and the other authorities concerned," he said. NFU Cymru's Malcolm Thomas said: "In terms of any wider spread, that would be extremely bad news for the industry, as this [bacterium] is the most potentially dangerous in the potato world." Brecon and Radnor MP Roger Williams agreed that the priority was the eradication of the disease. "I know the producers concerned have an excellent reputation for crop husbandry and health, and I am sure that this outbreak will not be traced to any negligence on their part." [The disease is bacterial ring rot, caused by Clavibacter michiganense subsp. sepedonicus (Cms). Wales' potato industry is operated by 95 registered growers who farm 2000 hectares. Production amounts to 86 000 tonnes and is valued at 6.5 million BPS to the economy. Cms occurs throughout Europe, after being identified in recent years in France, the Netherlands, and Denmark. Defra officials consider it one of the most serious diseases of potato. Cms is spread by infected tubers, and a major concern for plant pathologists in Wales and other parts of the UK is the possibility that seed potato stocks could be infected. Sanitation is the key to disease management. Only classified seed should be used for planting; all machinery, equipment, vehicles, containers such as potato sacks, storage facilities such as bins, and any other possible source of the pathogen must be identified and rigorously cleaned and thoroughly disinfected. Finally, if possible, dispose of all potato waste at an approved tip (dump) or by incineration.
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AgNet 14 November 2003 Potato disease massive blow to UK farmers November 13, 2003, BBC News Three more potato farms in the UK are, according to this story, under restriction after the world's most damaging potato disease was found on a mid Wales farm. The disease - ring rot - has never before been found in the UK. The source is at Middlewood Farm in Bwlch, near Brecon, where tuber were found to be contaminated with ring rot - described as the potato equivalent of foot-and-mouth. The story says that the discovery of the disease was confirmed during an annual survey for ring rot by Defra and it is thought the disease was brought into Wales on infected Dutch seed. The additional farms now under restriction - one in Wales and two in the Scilly Isles - had all taken delivery of seed potatoes from the Middlewood Farm over the last few weeks. Defra officials believe the outbreak is under control, and that it will be contained and eradicated. Experts are also talking to Spanish authorities about two consignments exported to the Canary Islands Although ring rot poses no risk to human health, farmers leaders in Wales had said the news is a "massive blow" to the industry. Annual losses to US potato farmers caused by ring rot have been as high as 50%. Farmers are also worried about the effect on the seed market if the UK loses its disease-free status.
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