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Emerging Pests of Potato in Europe: Early Warning, Risk Analyses and Regulation

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Abstract

Potato is a major crop across Europe, at risk from a wide range of introduced pests. Phytosanitary measures such as restrictions on imports of seed potatoes reduce those risks. Of the pests which have become established in Europe, some continue to spread while others are effectively controlled by quarantine measures. A number of emerging risks to European potato crops are described, including Epitrix flea beetles and ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’, the cause of zebra chip disease in the USA. Among the recommendations for helping to mitigate risks from these and other emerging pests are the adoption of good practice in disposal of waste and soil from potato processing, raising awareness of symptoms, targeted surveillance, prompt reporting of suspect findings and contingency planning for management of outbreaks. Effective dialogue between the potato industry and National Plant Protection Organizations is essential for the successful implementation of these measures.

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Acknowledgments

EPPO is funded by its member countries. The EPPO Secretariat would like to thank the experts of the EPPO Panel on Phytosanitary Measures for Potato for their role in harmonizing phytosanitary measures for potatoes at the level of the EPPO region and their involvement in drafting standards on potato pests.

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  1. European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization, 21 Boulevard Richard Lenoir, 75011, Paris, France

    M. Suffert & M. Ward

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  1. M. Suffert
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  2. M. Ward
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Correspondence to M. Suffert.

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Suffert, M., Ward, M. Emerging Pests of Potato in Europe: Early Warning, Risk Analyses and Regulation. Potato Res. 57, 263–271 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11540-014-9273-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11540-014-9273-1

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