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Confirmation of potato wart (Synchytrium endobioticum) detection in a single potato field in Prince Edward Island

From North American Plant Protection Organization's (NAPPO) Phytosanitary Alert System

OTTAWA, October 31, 2007 -  The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed the presence of potato wart in a single potato field near Freetown, Prince Edward Island, following the collection and testing of soil samples carried out over the past weeks.

Potato wart, a disease caused by a soil-borne fungus (Synchytrium endobioticum), poses no threat to human health and does not affect the safety of potatoes for consumption. It is considered to be a quarantine pest by Canada and many other countries because it reduces yield and makes potatoes unmarketable. Potato wart can be transmitted to pest-free areas through infested soil or potatoes.

The CFIA has implemented containment measures and a long-term management plan designed to minimize trade impacts for the potato industry in PEI and the rest of Canada. This plan was established after the initial finding of potato wart in 2000 to identify regulatory requirements, manage detections and prevent trade disruptions in the event of future positive finds of the plant disease in Canada or the U.S.

The latest find of potato wart was made following the voluntary submission to the CFIA of a tuber displaying potato wart symptoms and the resulting investigation to determine the precise origin of the infected tuber. The field is in close proximity to a field which is already known to be positive and has been under surveillance since the first potato wart detection in 2000.

When the producer submitted the sample, the CFIA immediately implemented control measures to limit the potential spread of infested soil and plant parts. These measures are consistent with potato wart regulatory measures taken to date in PEI.

Under IPPC standards, Synchytrium endobioticum is considered to be a pest that is present in Newfoundland, localized in Prince Edward Island, and subject to official control in Canada.

For more information on potato wart in Canada please visit the CFIA Web site at www.inspection.gc.ca

Contact:
Alain Boucher, National Manager, Potato Cyst Nematode Emergency Section, Moncton, New Brunswick
phone:506-851-2511
e-mail: bouchera@inspection.gc.ca

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