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Potatoes NZ is undertaking a range of research projects to help growers deal with the tomato / potato psyllid, Liberibacter, and Phytoplasma complex. This includes a series of workshops, the establishment of a psyllid working party, and a major Sustainable Farming Fund project. Upcoming work includes the launch of a regular psyllid update for the industry and workshops in 2010.
Psyllid voluntary contribution
In the past 18 months Potatoes New Zealand has invested $460,247 in psyllid related research and extension activities. This represents 177% of the annual R&D levy paid by growers. We have also been working to leverage funding from a range of sources but there is still more work that needs to be done and as yet remains unfunded. That is why we are asking growers and all supply chain partners to make a voluntary contribution equating to $1 per tonne of potatoes (or potato products) sold. It is intended that all of these contributions will be directed to psyllid related research and extension activities.
As at Tuesday 13 July contributions total $179,269.56 incl GST – an excellent start, but still well short of our target. In coming months the Potatoes New Zealand Directors will be meeting with supply chain partners and explaining the need for their contributions and areas where the funds are likely to be spent. A research roadmap has been developed (link) which identifies areas of work which are currently funded, inadequately funded, or unfunded and the time for completion of these research streams. Contributions are likely to be directed to these underfunded areas, and also to continue funding existing psyllid research commitments in projects such as:
- The current Sustainable Psyllid Management project (2 more years to run), covering
- insecticide field trials, spray programme development (including resistance management)
- national psyllid monitoring programme
- biological control agents
- spray application technology research
- Psyllid population biology (PhD student)
- Impacts of phytoplasma on potato production
- Screening of varieties for resistance
- Psyllid coordinator position
- Psyllid workshops and extension materials
For more information on psyllid research please refer to the February edition of Psyllid News or the research roadmap.
The Psyllid / Liberibacter / Phytoplasma complex
The tomato / potato psyllid, Liberibacter, and Phytoplasma complex poses a significant threat to the New Zealand potato industry – the psyllid has spread quickly across much of New Zealand and some crops have been severely affected as a result. Potatoes New Zealand is undertaking research, running workshops, and distributing resources to assist grpwers to monitor and control the psyllid, and the diseases it is thought to spread.
The psyllid was originally found in 2006 on tomatoes and potatoes in the Auckland and Waikato regions. Adults look like tiny cicadas, 2 - 3 mm long. It is a serious pest of potatoes and tomatoes, as well as capsicum and other solanaceous crops, and is difficult to control. In 2007 the psyllid spread south and was also found in Nelson. In 2008 it was found in outdoor tomato crops in the Hawkes Bay and Gisborne. Its ultimate range may be limited by winter temperatures.
The psyllid is a vector for Liberibacter, a disease which causes zebra chip in potato tubers as well as yellowing and plant death. The Phytoplasma is a bacteria-like organism associated with disease symptoms on potatoes. The relationship between the psyllid, Phytoplasma, and disease symptoms has not yet been confirmed.
A range of resources on the tomato / potato psyllid, Liberibacter, and Phytoplasma complex are presented below.
Monitoring
Regular monitoring for the tomato / potato psyllid is essential for effective control. Two types of monitoring can be carried out. Placement of yellow sticky traps indicate when adults are prevalent in the area, but not enough is yet known to establish control thresholds. The other options is inspecting plants (particularly the lower 1/3 of stems and leaves) which gives valuable information on the numbers and life stages present in the crop, and can be used to direct to types of control products to be used.
It is also useful to monitor (or preferably remove) alternative hosts which include the common weeds dandelion, amaranth, convolulus, jimson weed, mallow, and black nightshade. Ornamental solanaceous plants are also potential hosts, and so is the native plant poroporo.
Through the Sustainable Psyllid Management MAF SFF project Potatoes New Zealand are supporting national monitoring of psyllid numbers in key regions. It has come to our attention that growers wish to have monitoring done on their own properties and / or identification of suspected infested crops. Unfortunately Plant and Food Research, while they wish to support industry in every way possible, do not have sufficient staff to provide this service, mainly due to heavy workloads associated with industry funded research projects on the psyllid. In recognition of the skill level required to identify psyllids and differentiate between native and tomato / potato psyllid, Potatoes New Zealand have identified individuals that can provide this service - these are Tim Herman (Hawkes Bay 027 490 3359) and John Thompson (Auckland 027493 0199).
We are trying to identify someone to service the South Island. Please note that should you wish to employ the services of these individuals it will be at your own cost – Potatoes New Zealand are merely providing this recommendation to individuals requiring their own monitoring.
Psyllid monitoring is now being carried out at sites across New Zealand as part of the Sustainable Psyllid Management SFF project. This data, along with the latest information on psyllid monitoring, is presented below.
Control
The potato psyllid is a difficult pest to control, and when spraying thorough coverage of all parts of the plant is essential. The density of plant material late in the season can make it difficult to obtain good coverage and use of recommended water rates is considered to be essential. Growers are encouraged to follow all aspects of Good Agricultural Practice, especially the observance of pre-harvest intervals and following resistance management guidelines.
The following information provides some guidance on psyllid control strategies.
Archive
Psyllid & Liberibacter workshop March 2009
On 26 March 2009 a workshop was held in Christchurch to discuss the psyllid, zebra chip, Liberibacter, and the new phytoplasma. The proceedings of this workshop can be downloaded by clicking the links below.
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Psyllid News
Psyllid Newsletter: a special issue of the psyllid newsletter "Psyllid News", which discusses testing for Liberibacter and Phytoplasma, is now available. Click here to download it now.
Psyllid levy: Donations to the Potatoes NZ Charitable Trust continue to arrive - click here to see the list of contributors to date.
Joe Munyaneza: A presentation on the psyllid by Joe Munyaneza is now available - click here to download it.
Psyllid ID poster: A poster has been produced to help distinguide the potato psyllid from other psyllids - click here to download the opster now. This poster is provided courtesy of Plant & Food Research.
Psyllid Newsletter: the first issue of the psyllid newsletter "Psyllid News" is now available. Click here to download it now.
MAF SFF tomato / potato psyllid research project: supported by the Sustainable Farming Fund, grower levies, and Plant & Food Research internal funding, a cross-industry team will direct researchers in the development of management systems for the tomato / potato psyllid . Project outputs include resources containing up-to-date information about the insect and associated bacterium, laboratory and field evaluation of control options (including conventional and soft insecticides and biological control agents), and a system for evaluating the disease status of planting material. This is a three year project.
Workshops: Five workshops were run across New Zealand in August / September 2009 with more than 250 people attending these. Presentations from these workshops can be downloaded from this web page.
Psyllid working party: a Potatoes NZ working party has been established to deal with the psyllid issue. The working party will be responsible for direct industry actions to assist growers, monitoring developments / impacts on industry, communicating research findings & information, adapting strategies to respond, and encouraging international collaboration.
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