MAINTAINING SCOTTISH SEED POTATO PRODUCTION FREE FROM RALSTONIA SOLANACEARUM
Wood J.R., Breckenridge K.
Scottish Agricultural Science Agency (SASA) Craigs Road, East Craigs, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH12 8NJ
Seed potato production in Scotland is governed by The Seed Potato Regulations, 1991, under the control of the Scottish Office Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Department (SOAEFD). Virtually all seed is derived from the pathogen-tested nuclear stock collection of in vitro microplants produced and maintained at SASA. All new material for the nuclear stock collection is tested for R. solanacearum.
Prior to 1993, any potato material entering Scotland had to undergo quarantine testing at SASA before it could be grown in the field. This requirement fully protected Scotland from the introduction of non-indigenous potato pathogens such as R. solanacearum. When EC single market arrangements were introduced, seed potatoes from other EC community graded stocks, which are of an equivalent health status, were eligible for entry into the classification scheme in Scotland. This material is certified as free from R. solanacearum by the country of origin. In addition any seed being imported from The Netherlands has to be tested both there and in the United Kingdom before planting. Potato planting material from outside the EC still has to be quarantine tested.
Ware potatoes from outside the EC are inspected visually for Brown Rot on entry to the UK. Under special EC measures, a proportion of ware potatoes from Egypt are tested for latent infections of the disease.
SOAEFD also undertakes other annual surveillance exercises including surveys of Scottish grown seed and ware potato stocks for latent infections of R. solanacearum and Scottish rivers for infected secondary hosts.
The test procedures and results of the various testing programmes are presented. These measures are taken to ensure Scottish seed potatoes remain free from R. solanacearum.
