Hopes that potato disease has been safely contained

WITH the reverberations surrounding the finding of an infectious potato disease in Scotland still rattling around the industry, NFU Scotland vice-president Allan Bowie said he was pleased by the commitment of those involved that they would not bring in any other uncertified samples of the variety.

"There is a great deal at risk," he said, referring to the potential loss to the Scottish potato industry if the disease, Dickeya solani, spreads to other potato crops.

Bowie said he was pleased with the speedy and robust response by both the Scottish Government and its agricultural science agency, SASA, in quickly lifting the infected crop and taking it off to a secure dump.

The field at Balgove farm, Coupar Angus had been planted with the variety Innovator with uncertified seed that had been brought up from England. On testing the tubers, the disease, which causes rotting in both haulm and tuber, was found.

The Balgove farmer had been asked by prepacker Bartletts of Airdrie to grow the Dutch-bred variety under contract for the Morrisons supermarket chain.

While the disease has so far been found in only one crop, there are other fields of Innovator being grown in Scotland from uncertified seed.

But Bartletts has stated it will wait now until there are quantities of certified seed before it proceeds with any expansion of the acreage of the variety, which has shown great potential for supermarket sales.