Synchytrium endobioticum no longer found in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
In Northern Ireland (GB), potato wart disease caused by Synchytrium endobioticum (EPPO A2 List) had been detected in some fields at the beginning of the 20th century. All infected fields had been excluded from potato production (‘scheduled’). However, no new cases had been reported since 1959. From 2000 to 2011, a programme of systematic sampling and testing of all land identified as having had an outbreak of S. endobioticum (approximately 750 fields) was carried out. During this 10-year programme, no viable spores have been found in any of the 750 fields, and as a consequence the restrictions imposed on the previously infested land have been lifted (‘descheduled’) in Northern Ireland.
Sources
INTERNET
Northern Ireland Executive. O’Neill announces lifting of potato wart disease restrictions. Press release of 2012-08-14.
ProMed posting (no. 20120820.1252253) of 2012-08-17. Wart disease, potato – UK: (Northern Ireland) Eradication. http://www.promedmail.org