Surveys carried out in Germany on Ralstonia solanacearum
Surveys on Ralstonia solanacearum (EPPO A2 quarantine pest) have been carried out in Germany on the 1997 harvest of German potatoes and on imports from the Netherlands made in 1998. Samples were tested according to the EU protocol (IF with polyclonal antisera and/or PCR, semi-selective medium, and biological tests on aubergine and tomato). Sample size varied from 200 tubers/ha to 200 tubers/3 ha for seed potatoes, and for ware potatoes sample size was 200 tubers/25 t. Concerning the German production, 13.029 samples have been tested. No positive sample was found for seed potatoes. Two positive samples of ware potatoes (cv. Agria) were found in Bayern. In addition, visual inspections were carried out on 2.991 cut tubers and no symptoms were observed. Concerning potatoes imported in 1998 from the Netherlands, 1.153 samples have been tested so far, and only one positive sample of seed potatoes was detected by the laboratory in Bayern.
Sources
Plant Protection Service of Germany, 1998-08.