Surveys carried out in Germany on Ralstonia solanacearum
Surveys on Ralstonia solanacearum (EPPO A2 quarantine pest) have been carried out in Germany on the 1996 harvest of German potatoes and on imports from the Netherlands made in 1997. Samples were tested by using several methods (IF with polyclonal antisera, 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, 5331 samples have been tested. One positive sample of ware potatoes was found in Brandenburg (see EPPO RS 97/111). In Bayern, three samples of seed potatoes and two samples of ware potatoes gave positive results. Concerning potatoes imported in 1997 from the Netherlands, 1215 samples have been tested so far, and only one positive sample of seed potatoes was detected by a laboratory in Bayern. The corresponding consignment has been intercepted.
Sources
Plant Protection Service of Germany, 1997-07.