Source: DEFRA

The first phase of the sampling and testing programme following the potato ring rot outbreak on 30 July has been completed. This involved those stocks in cold store at the farm in Herefordshire from which the infected potatoes were supplied.

In total 12 stocks were tested and the results for 10 of these were negative. The two stocks which tested positive for ring rot were both of the variety Sante, associated with seed potatoes of this variety supplied from the Netherlands for planting in 2003.

The second phase of the sampling and testing programme will involve the 2004 crop, which is as yet largely unharvested. This element of the programme will help to establish whether infection is limited to the stocks already identified, or whether other stocks are affected.
The programme will focus on the farm in Herefordshire, as well as three other farms (in Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Newcastle) which received stocks of Sante from the same suppliers in the Netherlands.

As harvesting is carried out over a number of weeks, it is anticipated that this phase of the programme will not be completed until late Autumn.

BACKGROUND

1. Full details about ring rot can be found on Defra's website at http://www.defra.gov.uk/planth/ring.htm including Defra's contingency plan for dealing with outbreaks http://www.defra.gov.uk/planth/ring.pdf

2. The UK's first ring rot outbreak was in 2003. Details are available at http://www.defra.gov.uk/planth/ring/repfinal.htm

A ProMED-mail post
ProMED-mail is a program of the International Society for Infectious Diseases

11 Aug 2004
From: ProMED-mail<promed@promedmail.org>
Source: The Scotsman / Defra, 11 Aug 2004 [edited] <http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3326356>

Potato Ring Rot Update

DEFRA News Release (319/04) issued by the Government News Network on
11 Aug 2004

An extensive investigation continues following the finding of potato ring rot in Sante potatoes on 30 July 2004. Defra has confirmed that the 2 stocks of seed used to grow the potatoes in which ring rot was discovered originated in the Netherlands. Defra is liaising closely with the plant health authorities in the Netherlands to establish whether this seed may have been infected, or whether there is another explanation for the disease. All possibilities are being explored.

Another grower in Lincolnshire received seed potatoes in 2003 from one of the suppliers in the Netherlands, and stocks at this premises have been included in the investigation.

All affected potatoes from the packing firm in Cambridgeshire where the disease was identified have been disposed of by landfill.
Cleansing and disinfection have been completed at this premises, thus allowing normal operations to resume.

One consignment of Estima potatoes from the Herefordshire farm which supplied the potatoes to Cambridgeshire was exported to Norway in 2004. Whilst there is currently no evidence that these potatoes were infected with ring rot, Norwegian authorities have been notified.

BACKGROUND

1. Full details about ring rot can be found on Defra's website at <http://www.defra.gov.uk/planth/ring.htm>
including Defra's contingency plan for dealing with outbreaks <http://www.defra.gov.uk/planth/ring.pdf>

2. The UK's 1st ring rot outbreak was in 2003. Details are available at <http://www.defra.gov.uk/planth/ring/repfinal.htm>


Date: 11 Aug 2004
From: ProMED-mail<promed@promedmail.org>
Source: Defra website [edited]
<http://www.defra.gov.uk/planth/ring/update.htm>

Potato ring rot finding - update

At the farm from which the infected Sante potatoes originated, 14 stocks involving 5 varieties have been identified in store. Of these, 6 stocks have already been sampled and sent for testing at the Central Science Laboratory (CSL). 5 of the samples have been tested and results were negative. The varieties so far tested have been 2 groups of Marfona, and 1 each of Estima, Nadine and Maris Peer.
Potatoes already harvested in 2004 have been treated as priority samples. Other potato stocks still in the ground will be sampled and tested as they are harvested. In all cases at least 20 times 200 core samples are being taken, placed in buffer and sent to CSL.

Dutch Plant Health officials have given the UK details of seed potato sales from the growers who supplied the stocks of Sante from which the progeny were confirmed as having ring rot. They confirm that 1 other farm received Sante seed for the 2003 season from 1 of the 2 sources supplying the outbreak farm. This 2nd farm has no original 2003 stock remaining but potatoes harvested from the progeny will be tested as the potatoes are harvested.

One of the Dutch suppliers of the 2002-produced Sante sent seed to another UK grower in 2003 for 2004 harvest. These potatoes also will be tested as they are harvested. All potato stocks on the outbreak farm will be tested as well as any stocks identified as having the same grower source as the infected Sante.

[These reports are a good example of thorough investigation and follow-up on this incident. The ability to trace back is critical to determining the source(s) of the infection. In a way, clonally propagated crops such as potato, once infected, are the equivalent of "Typhoid Mary," complete with an efficient delivery system worldwide.
- Mod.DH]

London, United Kingdom
August 11, 2004

An extensive investigation continues following the finding of potato ring rot in Sante potatoes on 30 July 2004.

Defra has confirmed that the two stocks of seed used to grow the potatoes in which ring rot was discovered originated in the Netherlands. Defra is liaising closely with the plant health authorities in the Netherlands to establish whether this seed may have been infected, or whether there is another explanation for the disease. All possibilities are being explored.

One other grower (in Lincolnshire) is known to have received seed potatoes in 2003 from one of the suppliers in the Netherlands and stocks at this premises have been included in the investigation.

All affected potatoes from the packing firm in Cambridgeshire where the disease was identified have been disposed of by landfill.
Cleansing and disinfection has been completed at this premises, which means that it can operate normally again.

One consignment of Estima potatoes from the farm in Herefordshire which supplied the potatoes to Cambridgeshire was exported to Norway in 2004. Whilst there is currently no evidence that these potatoes were infected with ring rot, the Norwegian authorities have been notified.

BACKGROUND

1. Full details about ring rot can be found on Defra's website at http://www.defra.gov.uk/planth/ring.htm including Defra's contingency plan for dealing with outbreaks http://www.defra.gov.uk/planth/ring.pdf

2. The UK's first ring rot outbreak was in 2003. Details are available at http://www.defra.gov.uk/planth/ring/repfinal.htm

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