Ralstonia solanacearum: further details on the situation in France
Further to RS 2001/022 which reported an outbreak of Ralstonia solanacearum (EPPO A2 quarantine pest) in France, the French NPPO provides additional information. The seed potato producer concerned in 1998 in Haute-Normandie did not use irrigation, produced seed potatoes on fields not previously used for potato and did not share any equipment with other farms. These points exclude the possibility that the infestation came from contaminated ground water, from carry over from a previous crop, or from contaminated equipment and support the assertion that the origin of the infestation was seed potatoes from the Netherlands. All necessary eradication measures were taken at the infested site and for seed potatoes sold to other growers, according to the EU Control Directive. However, further monitoring of all possible infestation sites will be needed through the growing season of 2001 before successful eradication can be confirmed. In conclusion, the present situation concerning the outbreak is that R. solanacearum can be considered as present, but under eradication, at a few locations in the North of France.
Sources
NPPO of France, 2001-01-11, 2001-01-30, 2001-03-29.