New finding of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ in Estonia
In Estonia ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ (potato haplotypes are listed in the EPPO A1 List) was first reported in November 2017. It was detected in 4 samples of one of its psyllid vectors, Trioza apicalis (Hemiptera: Triozidae), trapped in carrot fields (EPPO RS 2018/035). During official surveys for ‘Ca Liberibacter solanacearum’ carried out in potato (Solanum tuberosum) production sites in Estonia in 2019 and 2020, insects were caught with sticky traps and tested for the presence of the pathogen. In 2019, specimens of Trioza urticae tested positive in the municipality of Võru, Kose, and in 2020 in the municipality of Põhja-Sakala vald. In the latter case, the haplotype was determined to be haplotype C. No official phytosanitary measures were taken as haplotype C is not known to infect solanaceous crops.
The pest status of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ in Estonia is officially declared as: Present, only in some parts of the Member State concerned.
Sources
NPPO of Estonia (2020-09, 2019-10).