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Statutory control measures for PCN from a

Scottish and EU perspective

Jon Pickup

SASA, Scottish GovernmentRoddinglaw Road

EdinburghEH12 9FJ


Outline of talkPCN occurs throughout the world to different extents

Background - Status of PCN in Europe/UK

Key elements of the new EU PCN Directive

Harmonised soil sampling

Sampling and Implementation Issues - Scotland

Phytosanitary approaches to PCN –Eradication versus Containment

Phytosanitary approach to PCN in the UK


Worldwide PCN Incidence

Most potato growing areas, notably:

EU - status varies widely

India

Former USSR (most parts?)

Mexico (Reported from in 46 counties in nine states, 1972)

New Zealand: first reported in 1972


Worldwide PCN Incidence

Outbreaks in:

USA: New York State, Delaware, Idaho

Canada: Newfoundland, Vancouver Island, Quebec, Alberta

Australia: Western Australia (1986), Victoria (1991)

Not reported from:

China


Status of PCN in Europe:2005 Economic Impact Assessment

G. rostochiensis identified in all EU Member States which officially test to species level

G. pallida identified in most Member States which officially test to species level

Incidence of PCN varies considerably across the EU


EU 2010 WARE SURVEY RESULTS (2007/33/EC: Article 6)

Member States shall provide that official surveys are carried out on fields used for the production of potatoes, other than those intended for the production of seed potatoes, in order to determine the distribution of potato cyst nematodes.

PCN Surveys: random selection of fields based on the distribution of potato production (minimum 0.5%) - results “notified in writing” to Brussels by 1 April


PCN infested Member States

• 1 member state reported infestation by G. pallida only.

• 7 member states reported infestation by G. rostochiensis only.

• 10 member states reported infestation by both PCN species.

• 4 member states reported no infestation by PCN


PCN in the UK:English Ware Potato Land 1997

5%

36%

59%

Clean Land Pure G. rostoch. G.pallida


PCN in the UK:Scottish Ware Potato Land

77%

12%11%



PCN in the UK:Scottish Seed Potato Land

1.9%0.5%

97.6%



Directive 2007/33/EC - Key elements

1. harmonized testing and sampling for PCN

2. annual survey of ware potato land (0.5%)

3. testing extended to cover the production of planting material of all PCN hosts

4. farm-saved seed potatoes are only exempt if they are to be planted at the same place of production

5. no potatoes for planting to be grown on PCN contaminated land


5. ware potatoes may be grown on contaminated land, subject to an official control programme

6. measures required to minimise the risk of spread of PCN with contaminated potatoes and waste

7. importance of resistant varieties recognized - protocol for resistance testing is described

8. varietal resistance to PCN defined

Directive 2007/33/EC - Key elements


EU Standard Soil Sampling Rate

With reference to the sampling and testing for the official investigation… :

sampling shall involve a soil sample with the standard rate of at least 1500 ml soil/ha collected from at least 100 cores/ha preferably in a rectangular grid of not less than 5 metres in width and not more than 20 metres in length between sampling points covering the entire field.

The whole sample shall be used for further examination.


Soil Sampling – EU

Pre-2010: Soil sampling rates across the EU vary from 600ml from a 4ha unit to 400ml from a 0.33ha unit (i.e. from 150ml/ha to 1200ml/ha)

Post-2010: Standard rate of 1.5 l/ha

Post-2010: Standard rate reduced to a minimum of 400 ml of soil/ha if field history indicates low risk of PCN:

– Rotation period of 1 year in 7 or longer

– History of clear PCN test results


Soil Sampling for PCN


PCN Soil Sampling – Time Lag from Introduction to Detection

3.8 million/ha

100

1,000

10,000

100,000

1,000,000

10,000,000

100,000,000

1,000,000,000

10,000,000,000

100,000,000,000

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Years after introduction

PCN

Pop

ulat

ion

(Pi)

cyst

s/ha

Detection threshold

Economic damage threshold

Visible damage threshold

Adapted from Spears, 1968. The Golden Nematode Handbook


Population Model: Conclusions

Soil sampling can be used to assess whether economic damage to a potato crop is likely

PCN are detected when infestations lie above threshold levels

Adopting a harmonized soil sampling and testing methodology is, in effect, establishing a threshold for detection

As many crops of potatoes are required to elevate PCN populations to realistic detection thresholds, soil testing cannot provide assurances that land is free from PCN, especially in circumstances where new infestations are likely to become established.


Implementation of PCN Directive 2007/33/EC in Scotland

Legislation

Information for Growers, guidance on Control Programmes

Application process, results letters, notices etc

LOTS MORE SOIL TO TEST - new approaches needed:

– Resources – Equipment but no additional staff

– Automated cyst extraction

– New diagnostic methods

– Field sampling equipment

– Mapping and tracking (SPUDS)


SASA – Automated Cyst Extraction


Carousel - Efficiency Gains

Staff Costs Carousel – 2.5 people can process 250 samples in 4 hours,

i.e. 25 samples/person/hour

Fenwick Can – 3 people can process 90 samples in 4 hours,i.e. 7.5 samples/person/hour

A saving of £65,000 p.a. based on 20,000 samples

Water usage Carousel – 21 litres/sample

Fenwick Can – 90 litres/sample

Carousel reduces water consumption by 75%


SASA - PCN Diagnostics

Visual examination

Automated PCR


Automated PCR Diagnostics


SASA Lab – PCN Diagnostics

PCR (polymerise chain reaction) method for detecting PCN DNA developed by SASA

Automated high throughput method using the entire ‘float’ (debris) from the carousel

Eliminates need for visual examination of ‘float’

PCR: 3 people - up to 1500 PCR reactions/week ( ≡ 1200 ha)

Visual: 5 people - up to 320 samples/week ( ≡ 1000 ha)

Efficiency Gains


Process management and reporting

SPUDS (Seed Potato Universal Data System)

Generates sample maps and labels

Labels are bar-coded to monitor sample progress

Tracks applications, samples, results and generates reports

Can be accessed by all staff involved at all stages

Eliminates manual data transfer and checking

Generates a 46% saving (per litre) in administrative costs


Test results

No live PCN found clearance certificate, 4 yrs

Live PCN found land recorded as infested:

– No seed for SPCS

– No farm saved seed, even on same holding

– Ware may be grown under Official Control Programme


Official Control Programme

Ware potatoes grown under an “official control programme”, agreed with Government

Aim: to suppress PCN population in the field

Growers have flexibility to use combinations of resistant varieties, rotation, nematicides, etc. to suit their business

No requirement to grow susceptible varieties


PCN outside the EU: Phytosanitary Options

Three phytosanitary approaches for PCN may be considered, based on the PCN status and the long term phytosanitary objective:

a. the establishment and maintenance of pest-free status with regards to PCN;

b. the eradication of isolated outbreaks of PCN and restoration of pest-free status; and

c. the management of known infestations of PCN with the aim of limiting further increase and spread.


International Standard on Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM 16): Quarantine Pests & RNQPs

Under official control with respect to the specified plants for planting with the aim of suppression

Under official control if present with the aim of eradication or containment

Official control

Impact is knownImpact is predictedEconomic impact

Phytosanitary measures only on plants for planting

Phytosanitary measures for any pathway

Pathway

Present and may be widely distributed

Absent or of limited distributionPest status

Regulated Non-Quarantine PestQuarantine PestDefining Criteria


PCN – Eradication Option (Q-pest)

Eradication – 20 plus years without a host crop

Knowledge of the extent of current PCN infestations and confidence that pathways for further introduction are covered

Long Term Aim – to minimise sampling to the minimum surveillance required to maintain confidence of pest free area

Testing soil from harvested potatoes is an option


PCN – Containment Option (RNQP)

Field sampling and testing can provide information that permits detection before economic damage occurs

Sampling rates should be determined according to PCN population biology in local production systems

PCN will be spread with the small proportion of seed produced on land with infestations below the level of detection

Ware land will require testing otherwise PCN build up will create other pathways for transmission


UK – PCN History

When UK entered the EEC in 1973, PCN was too well established for eradication to be feasible

Implementation of the 1969 PCN Directive failed to control PCN in English ware land - the only pathway addressed was via classified (marketed) seed potatoes


UK – PCN History

When UK entered the EEC in 1973, PCN was too well established for eradication to be feasible

Implementation of the 1969 PCN Directive failed to control PCN in English ware land as the only pathway addressed was via classified (marketed) seed potatoes

Do not permit the planting of any potatoes produced on land that has not been soil tested – unless they originate from a pest free area

The 1969 Directive was successful in containing PCN infestations in seed potato land


PCN in Scottish Seed Land 1985 - 2010

0%

1%

2%

3%

4%

5%

1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010

Inci

denc

e of

PC

N

All viable cysts G. rostochiensis G. pallida


SummaryThe incidence of PCN varies throughout the world

In some regions there is justification for treating PCN as a quarantine pest and seeking eradication

In other regions where the extent of infestations are more widespread and pathways for further introductions remain, containment of PCN may be a better option

The 2007 EU PCN Directive provides a good framework for management of PCN, although EU member states may take additional/stricter measures where appropriate


Summary - 2007 EU PCN Directive

The 2007 EU PCN Directive lays out a legislative framework appropriate for the control of a quarantine pest

The new Directive addresses the spread of PCN with allpotatoes for planting

Pre-crop soil testing for PCN is an essential and costly component of the new EU PCN Directive

A harmonised methodology for soil sampling is set out, incorporating some flexibility to accommodate the variation in the incidence of PCN that occurs across the EU

Many additional risks and control issues are also addressed, e.g. plants for transplanting, contaminated waste, survey of ware production, harmonised resistance testing


Science & Advice for Scottish AgricultureRoddinglaw Road

EdinburghEH12 9FJ

Thank you for your attention

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Statutory control measures for PCN from a Scottish and EU ... Potato Forum PCN... · SASA - PCN Diagnostics Visual examination Automated PCR. ... Pre-crop soil testing for PCN is