Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum in the Netherlands
Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum (EPPO A2 List) was first found in the Netherlands in 2015 in glasshouse companies producing Rosa plants for planting and subsequently eradicated (EPPO RS 2020/040). In August 2020, the bacterium was isolated from two water samples taken during the regular official survey for Ralstonia spp. in surface water, one from the province of Utrecht, and one from the province of Overijssel. The identity of the bacterium was confirmed in March 2021. The source of the infection is unclear. The NPPO noted that no greenhouses with host plants are located within 5 km radius of the point where the water samples were taken. It is questionable whether the bacterium can survive winter conditions in the Netherlands. New water samples will be taken in June and August 2021, to check whether the organism can be detected again in the surface water. No specific official phytosanitary measures have been taken, as it is already prohibited to use surface water to irrigate seed potatoes in the Netherlands and it is also prohibited to use surface water to irrigate ware potatoes in areas where EU-regulated Ralstonia species are known to occur in specific surface water areas.
The pest status of Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum in the Netherlands is officially declared as: Transient, actionable, under surveillance.
Sources
NPPO of the Netherlands (2021-07). |