Potato Globoderae

The damage caused is considerable: in the aerial part, stunted plant development, chlorosis and progressive decay until death can be seen. In addition, on roots and tubers in formation, cysts can be seen that are stored in the soil and contain eggs.

The applicable control is basically agronomic and is implemented through the use of healthy seed tubers, the adoption of long rotations and the possible use of resistant cultivars. Chemical control, on the other hand, has no significant effect.

Community regulations consider the two nematodes to be quarantine pests and following the findings in the Province of Trento, the Provincial Plant Protection Service has implemented compulsory control measures as prescribed by the European Union.

Phytosanitary control is imposed by a Determination of the Director of the Agricultural Service and updated in relation to any new findings of the harmful organism. This institute is used in particular to

• designate infested sites;
• approve the phytosanitary measures and the official control programme for the production of ware potatoes at infested sites.

MANDATORY PHYTOSANITARY CONTROL MEASURES in the Province of Trento. The following measures are aimed at eradicating the harmful organisms Globodera spp. and preventing their spread throughout the province in infested areas. The measures identified below apply to the following plants, intended for replanting

1. plants of Solanum tuberosum L. (potato), excluding seeds;
2. host plants with roots of Solanum lycopersicum L. (tomato) and Solanum melongena L. (aubergine);
3. other plants with roots: Allium porrum L., Asparagus officinalis L., Beta vulgaris L., Brassica spp., Capsicum spp., Fragaria L;
4. Bulbs, tubers and rhizomes of: Allium ascalonicum L., Allium cepa L., Dahlia spp., Gladiolus Tourn. Ex L., Hyacinthus spp., Iris spp., Lilium spp., Narcissus L., Tulipa L.

In infested production sites

• plants of Solanum tuberosum L. (potato) intended for the production of planting tubers shall not be cultivated;
• the above specified plants intended for replanting shall not be planted or stored, with the exception of the plants referred to in points 3 and 4, provided that such plants, after harvesting, are subject to appropriate phytosanitary requirements to prevent the spread of the pathogen
• they shall be cleaned of soil and plant debris before or immediately after movement away from the above production site and before entering any outside production site which has not been designated as infested
• potatoes intended for industrial processing or grading shall be delivered to a processing or grading plant which has appropriate and officially approved waste disposal procedures, including for soil debris, and in relation to which it has been established that there is no risk of spreading potato cyst nematodes
• the other plants identified under points 3 and 4, shall not be planted before they have been subjected to disinfestation by appropriate methods, or practically total removal of the soil by washing or brushing, and safe disposal of the soil residue.

OFFICIAL CONTROL PROGRAMME. Every year, the Provincial Plant Protection Service carries out official surveys on the territory of the Province of Trento, in accordance with the provisions of Exec. Reg. (EU) 2022/1192, in order to detect the presence of Globodera spp. in all planting potato production sites and in ware potato production sites in free areas. Official monitoring surveys on ware potatoes are carried out on at least 0.5 % of the cultivated area. All results of the detection surveys are entered in the official provincial Register of Detection Surveys and are reported to the Central Plant Protection Service in accordance with the model in Annex IV of Exec. Reg. (EU) 2022/1192.

In order to ensure that Globodera spp. is not spread outside infested production sites, professional operators registered with the RUOP (producers and wholesale traders of ware potatoes) and other professional operators (members of cooperatives/consortia of ware potato producers) shall adopt the following operational procedures

• before entering any external production site, which has not been designated as infested, the machinery must be cleaned of soil and plant debris before or immediately after being moved out of the infested production site;
• practically total removal of soil by washing or brushing of ware potatoes and disposal of the soil residue shall be ensured according to a procedure which does not pose any risk of spreading Globodera spp.

The associations and consortia for ware potato production shall promote the testing and introduction of resistant potato varieties with the highest levels of nematode resistance available.