The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed the detection of a potato pest, Golden Nematode, in a 30-acre field on a farm in the Municipalité régionale de comté (MRC) de Lajemmerais approximately 20 kilometres east of Montreal, Québec.

The Golden Nematode does not pose a risk to human health. Golden Nematode and Pale Cyst Nematode are two species of Potato Cyst Nematodes considered quarantine pests internationally because they can significantly affect the yields of potatoes and other host crops, such as tomatoes and eggplants. These pests infest the soil where host crops are grown and have been known to reduce yields by up to 80 per cent. They are very difficult to eradicate because they can persist dormant in the soil for several decades.

Both of these quarantine Potato Cyst Nematodes have been previously confirmed in 65 countries worldwide, including limited areas of Canada and the United States. In Canada, strict movement restrictions are in place to prevent the potential spread of these pests to non-infested areas.

Canada strictly regulates areas known to be infested with PCN and samples anything suspected to be infested with this pest. Samples are also taken and tested at the request of some importing countries.

The CFIA has begun an investigation in collaboration with the Government of Québec and industry. Records of field usage, equipment and seed sources are available from the affected farm. Strict quarantine measures have been implemented on the affected property in accordance with internationally recognized scientific standards. Extensive root and soil sampling is underway. The CFIA is confident that the measures in place will prevent the spread of this pest to non-infested areas.

The affected farm does not produce seed potatoes and is not in an area located near seed production. Canada has been exporting seed potatoes for more than 90 years to over 26 countries, many of which require routine testing of seed potatoes for this pest. There has never been a detection of Golden Nematode or Pale Cyst Nematode in Canadian seed potatoes.

The CFIA, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Province of Quebec are working with industry to respond to this issue. We are also working closely with our trading partners to mitigate any trade implications by providing evidence that supports a science-based regionalization response.

Information on this investigation will be posted to the CFIA's Web site (www.inspection.gc.ca) as it becomes available.

L’Agence canadienne d’inspection des aliments confirme la présence au Québec du nématode doré, un ravageur de la pomme de terre

L’Agence canadienne d’inspection des aliments (ACIA) a confirmé la présence d’un ravageur de la pomme de terre, le nématode doré, dans le champ de 30acres d’une exploitation agricole de la municipalité régionale de comté (MRC) de Lajemmerais, située à environ 20 kilomètres à l’est de Montréal, au Québec.

Le nématode doré ne présente aucun danger pour la santé humaine. Le nématode doré et le nématode à kyste pâle sont deux espèces de nématodes à kyste de la pomme de terre. Ils sont justiciables de quarantaine à l’échelle internationale, car ils peuvent nuire considérablement au rendement des cultures de pommes de terre et d’autres cultures hôtes, comme les tomates et les aubergines. Ces ravageurs infestent les sols où ces cultures hôtes poussent. On sait qu’ils peuvent réduire les rendements jusqu’à 80%. Il est très difficile de les éradiquer, car ils peuvent rester dormants dans le sol pendant des décennies.

La présence de ces deux nématodes à kyste de la pomme de terre qui sont justiciables de quarantaine a déjà été confirmée dans 65 pays, notamment dans des régions limitées du Canada et des États-Unis. Au Canada, des restrictions rigoureuses en matière de déplacement sont en vigueur pour empêcher la propagation de ces ravageurs dans des régions non infestées.

Le Canada réglemente de manière stricte les régions infestées par le NKP et il prélève des échantillons de tous les plants soupçonnés d’être infestés. On prélève et on analyse aussi des échantillons à la demande de certains pays importateurs.

L’ACIA a amorcé une enquête en collaboration avec le gouvernement du Québec et l’industrie. L’exploitation agricole concernée dispose de registres indiquant l’utilisation du champ, l’équipement employé et l’origine des semences. Conformément aux normes scientifiques reconnues à l’échelle internationale, on a appliqué des mesures strictes de mise en quarantaine à l’exploitation touchée. On effectue actuellement un vaste prélèvement d’échantillons de racines et de sol. L’ACIA est persuadée que les mesures en place vont prévenir la propagation du ravageur dans des régions non infestées.

L’exploitation agricole touchée ne produit pas de pommes de terre de semence et n’est pas située à proximité d’un lieu de production de semences. Le Canada exporte des pommes de terre de semence depuis plus de 90 ans dans plus de 26 pays. Bon nombre de ceux-ci exigent des analyses systématiques des pommes de terre de semence pour détecter ce ravageur. On n’a jamais dépisté le nématode doré ou le nématode à kyste pâle dans des pommes de terre de semence canadiennes.

L’ACIA, Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada et la province de Québec collaborent avec l’industrie pour gérer la situation. Nous collaborons aussi de près avec nos partenaires commerciaux afin d’atténuer les incidences sur les échanges; nous fournissons à nos partenaires des éléments d’information qui favorisent une régionalisation fondée sur la science.

RELATED REPORT

First report of golden nematode on potato in Québec, Canada

A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases <http://www.isid.org>

Date: 15 Aug 2006
From: ProMED-mail<promed@promedmail.org>
Source: ccnmatthews.com [edited]
<http://www.ccnmatthews.com/news/releases/show.jsp?action=showRelease&searchText=false&showText=all&actionFor=608116>


The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed the detection of a potato pest, Golden Nematode, in a 30-acre field on a farm in the Municipalite regionale de comte (MRC) de Lajemmerais approximately 20 kilometres east of Montreal, Quebec.

The Golden Nematode does not pose a risk to human health. Golden Nematode and Pale Cyst Nematode are 2 species of Potato Cyst Nematodes considered quarantine pests internationally because they can significantly affect the yields of potatoes and other host crops, such as tomatoes and eggplants. These pests infest the soil where host crops are grown and have been known to reduce yields by up to 80 per cent. They are very difficult to eradicate because they can persist dormant in the soil for several decades.

Both of these quarantine Potato Cyst Nematodes have been previously confirmed in 65 countries worldwide, including limited areas of Canada and the United States. In Canada, strict movement restrictions are in place to prevent the potential spread of these pests to non-infested areas.

Canada strictly regulates areas known to be infested with PCN and samples anything suspected to be infested with this pest. Samples are also taken and tested at the request of some importing countries.

The CFIA has begun an investigation in collaboration with the Government of Quebec and industry. Records of field usage, equipment and seed sources are available from the affected farm. Strict quarantine measures have been implemented on the affected property in accordance with internationally recognized scientific standards.

Extensive root and soil sampling is underway. The CFIA is confident that the measures in place will prevent the spread of this pest to non-infested areas.

The affected farm does not produce seed potatoes and is not in an area located near seed production. Canada has been exporting seed potatoes for more than 90 years to over 26 countries, many of which require routine testing of seed potatoes for this pest. There has never been a detection of Golden Nematode or Pale Cyst Nematode in Canadian seed potatoes.

The CFIA, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Province of Quebec are working with industry to respond to this issue. We are also working closely with our trading partners to mitigate any trade implications by providing evidence that supports a science-based regionalization response.

Information on this investigation will be posted to the CFIA's Web site (<http://www.inspection.gc.ca>) as it becomes available.

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

[The crop plant potato (_Solanum tuberosum_) is susceptible to the potato cyst nematode (_Globodera rostochiensis_, PCN), which is also known as the golden nematode (PCN/GN) especially in N. America.

The PCN is found in many places where potatoes are grown including Europe (see link for worldwide distribution map). There are 2 species of PCN affecting potato crops. The white or pale PCN (_Globodera
pallida_) is now believed to be the more dominant species in Europe, while the yellow or golden PCN (_Globodera rostochiensis_) still causes serious losses in some areas.

In North America _G. pallida_ was only known in Newfoundland, Canada until 21 Apr 2006 and 13 Jun 2006 when it was newly detected in continental USA. Two infested sites in Idaho are now known (20060423.1195, 20060805.2161).

_G. rostochiensis_ is known in New York State in mainland USA and on Vancouver Island, British Columbia and Newfoundland in Canada.
Because of effective Canadian and US quarantines, which have been in existence for over 50 years, PCN/GN remains confined to portions of Vancouver Island, Newfoundland and 9 counties within the State of New York.

This article reports on the detection of the PCN/GN in Lajemmerais, south-eastern Quebec Province, Canada near the USA border, which is the 1st report for mainland Canada. The quarantine practices that have contained the nematode in other areas of N. American will now have to be practiced in Quebec. The article goes to some pains to point out that the seed potato crop in Quebec has not been contaminated.

On 20 Apr 2006 Canada put restrictions on the import of potatoes and soil from Idaho, USA based on the detection of the pale PCN in Idaho. It will be interesting to follow what the consequences to Canada will be from the Aug 2006 detection of the PCN/GN in Quebec Province.

Map: Quebec, Canada <http://listingsca.com/Quebec/maps.asp>
Lajemmerais, Quebec <http://lajemmeraisregionalcountymunicipalityquebec.quickseek.com/>
PCN worldwide distribution
<http://www.eppo.org/QUARANTINE/nematodes/Globodera_rostochiensis/HETDRO_map.htm>

Pictures:
<http://www.eppo.org/QUARANTINE/nematodes/Globodera_pallida/HETDSP_images.htm>
<http://magallanes.sag.gob.cl/cultinem.jpg>
<http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/ent/bcconf/talks/images/brodie2.gif>

Links:
<http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/sci/surv/data/glorose.shtml>
<http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/cropprot/goldennema.htm>
<http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/corpaffr/newcom/2006/20060420e.shtml>
<http://www.eppo.org/QUARANTINE/nematodes/Globodera_pallida/HETDSP_ds.pdf>
<http://www.pestalert.org/viewArchPestAlert.cfm?rid=35>
<http://www.ars.usda.gov/Main/docs.htm?docid=12126>
<http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/ispm/nematode/>
<http://www.inspection.gc.ca> 
- Mod.JAD]

[see also in the archive:
Pale cyst nematode, potato - USA (03): 2nd report 20060805.2161 Pale cyst nematode, potato - USA (02) 20060615.1657 Pale cyst nematode, potato - USA: 1st report 20060423.1195 Cyst nematodes, potato, soybean - USA (NY, IL): new strains 20060413.1092
2005
----
Potato cyst nematodes - Russia (Kurgan) 20050809.2322 Potato cyst nematodes, Russia (Altai Region) 20050707.1921
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]