from DEFRA

The bacterium Clavibacter michiganensis sepedonicus, which causes ring rot, has been confirmed by the Central Science Laboratory in a sample of potatoes produced from Dutch seed potatoes at a farm in mid Wales. The potatoes came from a consignment produced as seed potatoes for export to the Canary Isles and were checked as part of the annual survey for ring rot

Action is being taken to prevent any spread of the disease from the infected farm and to trace any related potato stocks.

Background:

Full details about ring rot can be found on the Defra web-site at http://www.defra.gov.uk/planth/pestnote/rot.htm.

In tracing related potato stocks, contact is being made with the Dutch authorities to find where else seed of the same variety and origin may have gone in the UK. Should the Welsh farm have sold any potatoes to other destinations in the UK or elsewhere these will also be traced and the relevant authorities informed.

An EC Directive on the control of ring rot requires member states to carry out annual surveys for the disease, covering both visual symptoms and latent infection. In 2002 over 2500 samples of ware and seed potatoes grown in the UK were taken in the survey; no ring rot was found.