Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Mop-top spud virus is a mystery

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Potato growers are in wait and see mode as tests on a new potato virus found on Canterbury farms are analysed. Biosecurity New Zealand is working with Potatoes NZ to respond to a detection of the potato mop-top virus in tubers on two Mid Canterbury farms.
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While it is not a food safety issue it could cause productivity issues for growers if it becomes widespread, BiosecurityNZ incident controller David Yard said.

It is a notifiable and unwanted organism in NZ under the Biosecurity Act.

So far tubers from two Mid Canterbury properties have tested positive for the virus with further sampling under way in the district.

Samples are being taken from growers, seed lines and processors to find out how far the virus has spread.

Ashburton potato grower Dave Redmond said there’s a lot to be learnt about the disease as it’s the first time it’s been found in NZ.

“We really don’t know much at all right now. There’s a lot of testing still to come back. Well, actually, we have no results at this stage.

“No-one knows a lot about the disease and we will go through the process of finding out where it’s come from and how we can help solve it.”

A meeting organised by Potatoes NZ in Ashburton last Tuesday, at which Biosecurity NZ updated growers on the initial response, was positive and helped inform farmers how it’s all going to work, Redmond said.

“We don’t know when there will be any results and so, in the meantime, we are business as usual.”

This is the optimum time for planting and spuds still have to go in the ground.

Many countries have the virus and are dealing with it without too much issue.

“We don’t know where it came from, how it got here, what we do about it or what it may mean but a lot of countries have it and it doesn’t seem to be a major problem but we will see what the tests tell us and how BiosecurityNZ moves from there.”

Growers expect BiosecurityNZ will rely on past overseas efforts to control the virus in NZ.

Redmond said growers have experience dealing with the tomato potato psyllid and will be feeling their way with the new virus.

He doesn’t expect it to affect trading.

Potatoes NZ chief executive Chris Claridge said the affected potatoes are from the Innovator variety, which is used only for potato chips.

“The industry is working closely with BiosecurityNZ to learn more about the virus, the impact it could have on growers and to stop any risk of spread.

“We will then consider if it is possible to eradicate it or whether we will need to work with growers to manage its impact over the long term.”

Innovator was last imported as germplasm in July 2011. Germplasm is tested for the virus before its release.

It is understood a small number of tubers are also brought into the country.

The initial focus of tests will be on other farms with Innovator but the tests will be extended to other varieties including potatoes for hash browns and other products

Affected potatoes can display symptoms including distortions to the skin, deep cracking and rust-coloured arcs, streaks or flecks in the flesh.

The transfer of soil is a common theme for spreading viruses and growers can step up their farm biosecurity by cleaning machinery.

The virus is common overseas including in North and South America and parts of Europe and Asia but isn’t found in Australia.

So far chemical treatments have yet to be found for the virus and overseas efforts appear to be concentrating on breeding virus-resistant potatoes and using fungicides, crop rotations and planting certified seed potatoes.

Fact sheets and guidance are being drawn up for growers.

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