July 6, 2005
Source: Amytel News Agency, 30 Jun 2005 [edited] <http://www.amic.ru/data/2005/06/30/news/24497.shtml>

Potato cyst nematodes (Globodera rostochiensis), Altai region, Russia

In 30 districts of the Altai region potato fields are infested with the golden potato nematode (_Globodera rostochiensis_) [Gs]. Weak to high levels of infection are reported according to expert helminthologists of
the Territorial Management of Federal Service on Veterinary and Plant-sanitary Inspection in the Altai region and Altai Republic.

Gs causes the dangerous potato disease globoderosis, which is of quarantine importance for Russia. In infested fields, the 1st appearance of the disease is seen after 5-6 years of cultivation. With increases in levels of infection, the yield of the potato crop is reduced, its quality (amount and weight of tubers) decreases, and the percent of starch and quantity of vitamin C in tubers is also reduced.

Boris Banshchikov, deputy chief of Territorial Management of Russian Agricultural Supervision for the Altai region and Altai Republic, has declared that uncontrolled barter transactions, introduction of new technologies of agricultural crop production, huge imports of the foodstuffs, fodder and raw material are of special concern for the
phytosanitary service. They create an opportunity for drift and distributions of new pathogens, especially such dangerous quarantine pests as the pale potato nematode, already affecting potato cultivars and potato hybrids.

The main requirement is that all potato producers sell only potatoes with quarantine certificates. Constant supervision of the phytosanitary condition of planted potato crops [is required], and experts in phytosanitation laboratories should carry out these measures.

--
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[To accommodate the potato cyst nematodes and related species having round cysts, a new subgenus (_Globodera_) was erected and later elevated to generic status in 1975. There are 2 species of potato cyst nematode (PCN) affecting crops in Europe. The 'white' or 'pale' PCN (_Globodera pallida_) is now believed to be the more dominant species, while the 'yellow' or 'golden' PCN (_Globodera rostochiensis_) still causes serious losses in some areas. Together they are estimated to result in annual losses in European potato production valued in excess of 200m BPS [USD 349 million]. A recent survey of soil samples taken by growers revealed that up to 60 percent of the land cropped with potatoes in the UK is infested with PCN. Annual loss to the UK potato industry as a direct consequence of PCN has been estimated at approximately 9 percent of crop value, worth around 43m BPS [USD 75 million].

Disease management is traditionally by crop rotation, as it is recognized that several years in the absence of potato cultivation will reduce the population of nematodes to a significant degree; 7 years without potatoes is a common recommendation. More recently, crop rotation has been supplemented by use of resistant potato cultivars and nematicides (fumigants or granular systemic compounds). An integration of these methods can be used to keep the nematode population levels below economic thresholds. Control on tomatoes is chiefly by soil fumigants.

Both species of potato cyst nematode are A2 quarantine pests for EPPO (OEPP/EPPO, 1978; 1981). They are also of quarantine significance for APPPC and NAPPO. In addition, _G. rostochiensis_ is a quarantine pest for CPPC and IAPSC.

The nematodes are already established in most or all areas in the EPPO region that are important for the cultivation of potatoes for consumption or the production of starch; therefore, regular attention to control is needed in such areas. Where domestic legislative measures are in force, import regulations are justified to ensure comparable standards for imported material. It is essential that areas of seed potato production be kept as free as possible from these nematodes.

Links:
<http://www.eppo.org/QUARANTINE/nematodes/Globodera_pallida/HETDSP_ds.pdf>
<http://nematode.unl.edu/pest6.htm>
<http://www.syngenta-crop.co.uk/NR/exeres/4D8A94B9-1DCC-4704-A2B9-65E4A033C92D,frameless.htm>
<http://www.afsni.ac.uk/Services/Potato_Cyst_Nematode/potato2.htm> 
- Mod.DH]

[see also in the archive:
2004
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Potato cyst nematodes, survey - UK (England, Wales) 20040106.0056 Potato cyst nematode - Indonesia (Malang) 20040821.2326 Potato cyst nematodes - Croatia 20040830.2420 2002
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Potato nematodes, potato - Czech Republic 20020106.3168
Potato cyst nematode, potato - Hungary 20021012.5538
Potato cyst nematode, potato - Czech Republic 20021228.6141]