South Perth, Western Australia
February 19, 2008
Western Australia’s potato market,
processing and export industries are benefiting from the
incorporation of virus testing into the seed potato
certification schemes, which are able to demonstrate seed is
virus free.
Department of Agriculture
and Food AGWEST Plant Laboratories manager Mark Holland said
the virus testing program targeted all generation two sown
certified and registered seed potato crops for the presence of
potato leaf roll virus, tomato spotted wilt virus, potato virus
S, potato virus X and potato virus Y.
“A pilot testing program was implemented in 1997 on generation
one sown certified seed. It delivered benefits immediately and
the industry has progressively expanded the program into
registered seed and into later generations of seed,” he said.
“The program was implemented because virus symptoms are
difficult to see in various circumstances. Some viruses do not
produce symptoms in the year of infection, while others show up
only when environmental conditions are optimum.
Mr Holland said mandatory labelling in the scheme had also
assisted with the tracing and eradication of infected seed lots.
“Test results are collated for each seed grower and circulated.
It was very pleasing to see those growers who initially had high
virus levels respond to the information provided and improve
their performance,” he said
“Commercial growers are advised to always buy certified or
registered seed to take advantage of the fine quality on offer.
“Certified and registered seed users are far less likely to
receive seed potatoes infected with significant levels of
virus.”
The potato seed testing program is funded by the Agriculture
Produce Commission and Potato Producers Committee. |
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