Suspected bacterial ring rot on potato in England

A further UK outbreak of potato bacterial ring rot is being investigated, Fera (Food and Environment Research Agency) has announced. The suspected outbreak in the east of England follows notification by the Dutch Plant Protection Service of the delivery of two varieties of seed potatoes from a farm affected by ring rot in the Netherlands. They have been used to grow seed and ware potatoes in England.
 
The Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate (PHSI) has been tracing and testing remaining harvested stocks and provisional results suggest ring rot in one of the varieties. Final confirmation will take several weeks and tests on the other variety are continuing.
 
Tracing of stocks of other varieties grown on the farm, which grew seed potatoes from the Dutch stocks is under way, as well as tracing of ware potatoes grown from the Dutch stocks. There is no evidence any of the infected stock has moved outside of England.
 
NFU's (National Farmers Union)Tim Papworth said: "The high level of imports over the past few months have increased the risk of introducing and spreading harmful organisms. New legislation to strengthen plant health protection which will reduce the risks in the future."