SASA © Crown Copyright
Statutory control measures for PCN from a
Scottish and EU perspective
Jon Pickup
SASA, Scottish GovernmentRoddinglaw Road
EdinburghEH12 9FJ
SASA © Crown Copyright
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
SASA © Crown Copyright
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
SASA © Crown Copyright
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
SASA © Crown Copyright
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
SASA © Crown Copyright
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
SASA © Crown Copyright
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
SASA © Crown Copyright
PCN in the UK:English Ware Potato Land 1997
5%
36%
59%
Clean Land Pure G. rostoch. G.pallida
SASA © Crown Copyright
PCN in the UK:Scottish Ware Potato Land
77%
12%11%
Clean Land Pure G. rostoch. G.pallida
SASA © Crown Copyright
PCN in the UK:Scottish Seed Potato Land
1.9%0.5%
97.6%
Clean Land Pure G. rostoch. G.pallida
SASA © Crown Copyright
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
SASA © Crown Copyright
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
SASA © Crown Copyright
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.
SASA © Crown Copyright
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
SASA © Crown Copyright
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
SASA © Crown Copyright
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.
SASA © Crown Copyright
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 © Crown Copyright
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 © Crown Copyright
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
SASA © Crown Copyright
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
SASA © Crown Copyright
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
SASA © Crown Copyright
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
SASA © Crown Copyright
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.
SASA © Crown Copyright
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
SASA © Crown Copyright
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
SASA © Crown Copyright
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
SASA © Crown Copyright
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
SASA © Crown Copyright
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
SASA © Crown Copyright
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
SASA © Crown Copyright
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
SASA © Crown Copyright
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
Top Related