Survey on Ralstonia solanacearum in United Kingdom: 2003 results
In United Kingdom, there have been 5 confirmed outbreaks of Ralstonia solanacearum (EPPO A2 list) in potato crops: 2 in the Thames Valley (in 1992 and 1995), 2 in Northamptonshire (in 1999), and 1 in Kent (in 2000). The bacterium has also caused 2 outbreaks in tomato crops grown at 1 locality in Bedfordshire (in 1997 and 1998). All these cases were apparently caused by irrigating crops with water from contaminated rivers, where the bacterium persists by infecting Solanum dulcamara plants with roots in the water. Monitoring programmes and eradication measures are being applied in United kingdom. Since the last outbreak in 2000, R. solanacearum has not been detected on crops but only in watercourses. Results of the 2003 action and survey are presented in detail on the web site of DEFRA. Numerous herbicide spot treatments were applied against S. dulcamara along watercourses (4,000 in June/July and 2,000 in September). Concerning the analysis of water samples, R. solanacearum was absent in 41 of the 65 sites sampled (63 %). The bacterium was found in water samples from 12 water courses (essentially located in the south and south-east of England). The situation of R. solanacearum in United Kingdom can be described as follows: Present, the bacterium has been eradicated from solanaceous crops but can still be detected in a few watercourses.
Sources
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Web site of Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), United Kingdom
Potato brown rot: 2003 monitoring programme: Final results.
http://www.defra.gov.uk/planth/pbr2.htm.
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