Ralstonia solanacearum is absent from Western Australia (AU)
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development of Western Australia (AU) recently informed the EPPO Secretariat that Ralstonia solanacearum (bacterial wilt - EPPO A2 List) no longer occurs in the state of Western Australia (AU). Bacterial wilt was present in Western Australia as early as 1919, and was recorded on potato, tomato and tobacco (Solanum tuberosum, S. lycopersicum and Nicotiana tabacum). At the peak of infection in 1967-1968, approximately 145 acres (approximately 58 ha) of potatoes were affected on 27 properties. Previous significant outbreaks had occurred in potatoes in 1944, 1947 and 1951. Eradication of the disease in Western Australia was accomplished after all properties affected by bacterial wilt were quarantined for a period of five years, during which no potatoes or other solanaceous crops could be grown, and volunteer potatoes were destroyed. The last detection of bacterial wilt in a commercial crop was in January 1975. Later infections were confirmed in home gardens in 1984, 1985 and 1987. These were all traced to home owners planting imported ware potatoes (S. tuberosum cv. Pontiac) in their gardens. The infected plots were immediately treated with formalin and property owners were required to exclude all solanaceous plants for a period of 5 years. There have been no detections of bacterial wilt in Western Australia since 1987.
Sources
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development of Western Australia. Biosecurity (2018-11).
References about the past occurrence of bacterial wilt in Western Australia:
Cass-Smith WP (1943) Wilt diseases of tomato. Journal of Agriculture, WA (II) 20, 45-53.
DAFWA (1960) Bacterial wilt of potatoes. Journal of the Department of Agriculture Western Australia, Series 4 1, 515-516.
Fallon J (1967) Bacterial wilt of potatoes - a record high incidence in 1967. What of 1968? Bulletin no. 3541, DAFWA.
Herbert DA (1919) Annual Report, Pathological report. Department of Agriculture and Industry, Western Australia.
MacNish GC (1963) Diseases recorded on native plants, weeds, field and fibre crops in Western Australia. Journal of Agriculture Western Australia Series 4, 4, 401-408.
Pittman HA (1929) Potato diseases in Western Australia. Journal of Agriculture Western Australia (II) 6, 246-256.
Pittman HA 1933, Bacterial wilt of tomatoes and other solanaceous crops. Journal of Agriculture Western Australia (II) 10, 373-374.