Update of the situation of Ralstonia solanacearum in the EPPO region
Ralstonia solanacearum (EPPO A2 List), the causal agent of potato brown rot is subject to annual surveys and phytosanitary measures in the European Union. Following surveys in 2024, the pest status has changed in some countries, as mentioned below.
In Austria R. solanacearum had been declared eradicated in 2015 (EPPO RS 2015/028). In November 2024, it was detected in one lot of stored ware potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) that had been produced in the municipality of Lassee (Niederösterreich) from imported seed potatoes.
The pest status of Ralstonia solanacearum in Austria is officially declared as: Present, under eradication.
In Italy, R. solanacearum is under official control on the mainland. Several outbreaks of R. solanacearum have been first reported in Sardegna in 2024 on potato. In June 2024, it was found in the municipality of Arborea (province of Oristano) on potato tubers post-harvest. Further surveys detected the pest in several locations in the province on Oristano in self-produced potato seed tubers in September and in potato plants in November.
The pest status of Ralstonia solanacearum in Italy is officially declared as: Present, under eradication.
In Slovenia, R. solanacearum had been declared eradicated in 2017. It was detected in ware potato tubers in a storage facility in November 2024. Infected potato was grown in a field (1.5 ha) in the municipality of Duplek (Eastern Slovenia), which had no potato production in previous years. The seed potatoes planted in that field originated from the Netherlands.
The pest status of Ralstonia solanacearum in Slovenia is officially declared as: Present, under eradication.
In Sweden, R. solanacearum had been last found in 2009. It was detected in potato tubers intended for planting in December 2024. The tubers had been propagated in 2024 in a field in the municipality of Motala (county of Östergötlands). The seed potatoes that were used for this crop originated in another EU Member State.
The pest status of Ralstonia solanacearum in Sweden is officially declared as: Present, under eradication.
In all cases, official measures have been taken according to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1193.
Sources
NPPO of Austria (2025-01).
NPPO of Italy (2024-07, 2025-01).
NPPO of Slovenia (2024-11).
NPPO of Sweden (2024-12).
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/119 of 11 July 2022 establishing measures to eradicate and prevent the spread of Ralstonia solanacearum (Smith 1896) Yabuuchi et al. 1996 emend. Safni et al. 2014. OJL 185 12.07.2022, 27-46, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2022/1193/oj