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18 | February/March - 2017 | 19
R&D | SEED CERTIFICATION |
The Western Australian Certified Seed Potato Scheme plays a vital role in the state’s potato industry,
working closely with growers to maintain the production of clean, high health seed. Potatoes Australia
spoke to DAFWA’s Dale Spencer about the program and its vision for the future.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA: PRI STINE SEED THE KEY TO
A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE
For over 20 years, the Department of Agriculture and Food,
Western Australia (DAFWA) has certified crops under the
Australian National Certified Seed Potato (ANCSP) Standard,
which is incorporated into its certified seed potato scheme.
DAFWA, through its Diagnostics and Laboratory Services division,
manages the Western Australian Certified Seed Potato Scheme.
The Department, in consultation with the Australian Seed Potato
Council, assists in the maintenance of the national certification
rules. Western Australia has four field inspectors located in the key
potato growing regions of Bunbury, Albany, Manjimup and Perth.
PROGRAM BACKGROUND
Dale Spencer is DAFWA Unit Leader of Seed Potato Certification
and is based at Manjimup, approximately 300 kilometres south
of the Department’s head office in Perth.
Mr Spencer is responsible for field operations and the
administration of the Western Australian Certified Seed Potato
Scheme under the management of Mike Davies in Perth. All
Western Australian growers can contact Mr Spencer with their
enquiries and applications, and he then disseminates the
inspection reports.
“The National Standard, which every state sits under, provides a
benchmark – every state must meet that standard,” Mr Spencer said.
“Both the National Standard and the Western Australian Certified
Seed Potato Scheme are not set in concrete. Every year, we have
to look at whether there are improvements to be made, or if there
is an area we can change with the view of providing a vehicle for
industry to use in producing pristine seed. New seed management
techniques may be introduced, further improving the standard.”
As the scheme constantly evolves, Mr Spencer added that it is
industry’s responsibility to keep abreast of the requirement changes
made under the National Standard. DAFWA personnel can also
assist growers when necessary.
“Our role is to facilitate and administrate the seed scheme for
its customers at an affordable cost. We maintain those certification
rules. Without the current robust standards, the investment in
training, record keeping and quality inspections, then the high
health seed currently produced in Western Australia, would be
at risk,” he said.
“Good standards delivering high health seed with extremely
low levels of virus and disease really serves the customers of
Western Australian seed potatoes well, whether they be in
Western Australia itself, other Australian states or in Indonesia,
Thailand, Vietnam or Mauritius.”
INDUSTRY SUPPORT
Mr Spencer said over the years, he has welcomed industry
involvement in the scheme.
“We have the WA Seed Potato Producers Inc. (WASPP), which is
a dedicated seed growers’ industry group. If there are any issues or
any decisions to be made, or any enquiries – anything really that
falls outside of our day-to-day duties, I contact that group,” he said.
“I consult the WASPP group to ensure any significant decisions are
inclusive and in the best interests of the broader industry, or when
advice is required.”
ANNUAL TESTING
DAFWA has a diagnostics laboratory set up in Perth, which is
available for seed virus testing and disease identification, should it
be required by any of the Department’s field officers or growers.
“If I go to a crop and need to identify a virus, I’ll send some
leaves to our laboratory in Perth and they will do the scientific
testing for us,” Mr Spencer said.
DAFWA also conducts soil testing for Potato cyst nematode
(PCN) as part of an international procedure and an ongoing
surveillance program.
“We also conduct a laboratory testing survey of all generation
two sown crops, which is funded by the industry. This has proved
to be very beneficial in providing an early detection system for
virus diseases and has assisted in reducing virus levels to negligible
levels in crops in Western Australia,” Mr Spencer said.
At random, 350 leaves are collected from each grower in the
state every year across all generation two crops. These samples
are then tested for five viruses that are considered to be of
primary concern in potatoes: Potato virus X (PVX), Potato virus S
(PVS), Potato virus Y (PVY), Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) and
Potato leafroll virus (PLRV).
“If any of the tests come back positive or if they fall outside the
tolerances of the national scheme, then we determine that this
seed is rejected from those crops and they play no further part in
the seed scheme,” Mr Spencer said.
“Last year we tested about 7,000 samples. The results showed
that the level of total virus in our generation two crops was
around .02 per cent. This survey shows that our seed scheme in
Western Australia is functioning effectively and it gives the industry
confidence going forward that the crops that they’re planting are
virtually free of virus.”
“Testing is also undertaken for Potato spindle tuber viroid
(PSTVd) in seed. The sampling and testing regime is consistent with
that conducted in other states and was implemented to provide
assurance that PSTVd is not present in Australian seed schemes.
“Samples are collected from every property that has applied for
seed to be certified. This testing program has been in operation
for two years and no positive results have been detected.”
DAFWA also provides routine testing services at the request of
growers to assist their programs.
FUTURE VISION
Western Australian seed potatoes are sold into other states as well
as internationally. These “exports” will increase as DAFWA’s vision is
to double the value of agriculture by 2025.
“To couple in with that, we’re going to try and develop an
even better seed quality – and there are certain projects that our
scientists are looking at. One was on physiological age and the
development of suitable varieties for export markets and another
one would be to identify seed markets,” Mr Spencer said.
“This goes outside of certification, but it’s linked in to DAFWA’s
overall focus. If we haven’t got good certified seed scheme
standards then all of these things are not going to matter. The
good seed scheme standard comes first, which then leads to the
development of even better seed quality and development of
suitable varieties for exports.
“A good certification seed scheme provides high health seed. We
believe we have consistent high health seed in WA, but you can
always improve and we’ll be looking to fine tune that with the view
of achieving those three things already mentioned – physiological
age, development of suitable varieties for export markets and
identify seed markets – which will help to double the value of
agriculture by 2025.”
For more information, please visit .
The Western Australian Seed Potato Scheme's generation two virus surveys
are funded by the Potato Producer Committee of the Western Australian
Agricultural Produce Commission.
This communication has been funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia
Limited using the Fresh Potato Levy and funds from the Australian Government.
Project Number: PT15007
INFO
According to DAFWA, the seed scheme in Western Australia is functioning effectively and regular
testing gives the industry confidence that the state's potato crops are virtually free of virus.