'No complacency' warning over potatoes

Scottish seed potato growers can breathe a slight sigh of relief over the news that government inspectors have failed to find any trace of the infectious bacterial disease, dickeya, despite a rigorous inspection scheme.

Last summer, a number of outbreaks of the disease were found in the main potato growing areas of Scotland and there were fears that the Scottish seed industry, which is worth more than 60 million annually, would suffer if the disease became endemic.

Four years ago, when dickeya swept through the potato fields of Holland, it was estimated to have cost their industry around €25. Following the identification of the disease in Scotland, the industry also supported a 500,000, three-year project on the disease. This started last summer and is being funded on a 50:50 spit between the Potato Council and the Scottish Government.

Over the winter, more than 400 samples were taken from both seed and ware crops, targeting the most likely stocks to suffer from contamination. These included samples from crops of non-Scottish seed origin and from crops grown near watercourses contaminated with dickeya.

Samples were also taken from potato stores of crops grown close to where the disease had been found last year.

Although the overall message was good, there was a note of caution in the words of Dr Gerry Saddler, of the science and advice for Scottish agriculture department who carried out the inspections.

"It is certainly good news," he said, "but it is fair to add that all of the outbreaks picked up last year were in growing crops and we also still have to see the results from the ware growers.

"Only by remaining vigilant can we maintain our reputation for producing healthy potatoes and ensure this damaging bacterial disease in kept out of the supply chain."

The growing crop inspection regime this summer will continue the focus on ensuring no dickeya comes into Scotland from imported seed.