Outbreak of Ralstonia solanacearum in France
The NPPO of France recently informed the EPPO Secretariat about an outbreak of Ralstonia solanacearum (EPPO A2 List) in the department of Haute-Saône (Franche-Comté region). During the official 2013 national survey, the bacterium was detected in November in one field of ware potatoes (Solanum tuberosum cv. ‘Magnum’) grown for transformation into frozen products. This field was irrigated (sprinklers) with water from the river (Saône) and potatoes were grown in rotation with onion and maize crops. Investigations are being made to identify the possible source of this outbreak. The first results have excluded an introduction with contaminated potato seed. Samples of Solanum nigrum were collected from the river banks, as well as water samples from the river Saône, but all tested negative. As at the moment of detection, the contaminated potato lot had already been transformed (frozen product), phytosanitary measures included the disinfection of all agricultural machinery, and intensive surveys will continue on the outbreak site.
The pest status of Ralstonia solanacearum in France is officially declared as: Present, under eradication.
Sources
NPPO of France (2014-02).