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The project aimed to increase
knowledge on the role of non-
crop host plants in the life cycle
and ecology of TPP and CLso,
with the results to be used for
biosecurity preparedness and to
develop effective Integrated Pest
Management (IPM) programs in
Australia and New Zealand.
“If that psyllid comes to
Australia, and we have an IPM
system in Australia in potatoes,
where are the knowledge gaps
that need to be addressed in
order to keep that IPM system,
or to further inform and develop
that IPM system?” Dr Dohmen-
Vereijssen said.
“One of the gaps that was
identified had to do with where
the psyllids go when the crop
is gone, because some growers
think that when the crop is here
all of a sudden the psyllids just
TPP could have in Australia.
Meanwhile, Dr Vivian-Smith
gave an insight into the
decision-making process that
occurs when dealing with
emergency responses to a
plant pest incursion.
TPP is a tiny sap-sucking insect
that is currently widespread
across New Zealand. It vectors
the plant-pathogenic bacterium
Candidatus
Liberibacter
solanacearum (CLso), which
causes Zebra chip disease in
potato tubers. This devastating
complex also attacks
solanaceous crops such as
tomatoes, capsicums, tamarillos
and eggplant (see page 16 for
more information).
Ten years ago, TPP was
THE 2016 PLANT BIOSECURITY COOPERATIVE RESEARCH CENTRE (PBCRC) SCIENCE
EXCHANGE GAVE RESEARCHERS THE CHANCE TO SHARE THEIR KNOWLEDGE
AND DISCUSS THE IMPACT OF THEIR WORK ON END-USERS. THIS YEAR, A JOINT
PRESENTATION FOCUSED ON THE TOOLS AND STRATEGIES THE AUSTRALIAN POTATO
AND VEGETABLE INDUSTRY COULD IMPLEMENT TO RESPOND TO A PEST INCURSION,
SUCH AS TOMATO-POTATO PSYLLID.
Improving incursion response using
Tomato-potato psyllid as a case study
A
USVEG National Manager
– Science and Extension Dr
Jessica Lye joined Plant & Food
Research New Zealand scientist
Dr Jessica Dohmen-Vereijssen
and Agriculture Victoria Chief
Plant Health Officer Dr Gabrielle
Vivian-Smith to present at
the 2016 Plant Biosecurity
Cooperative Research Centre
(PBCRC) Science Exchange
in October.
The trio spoke about the
various aspects of their
research and the impact it
has on growers and the wider
vegetable and potato industry.
Dr Dohmen-Vereijssen reported
on a three-year research project
that Plant & Food Research
recently completed on the
Tomato-potato psyllid (TPP),
while Dr Lye’s presentation
focused on the impact that
detected close to Auckland.
Two years later, a new-to-
science pathogen – CLso – was
found in a capsicum crop also
close to Auckland. Later in that
year, the first Zebra chip disease
in potatoes was discovered in
the Auckland region.
“After that, the spread over
the whole of New Zealand has
grown rapidly and basically
the psyllid is everywhere – in
all the growing regions. I think
that potato and tamarillo are
probably the worst-affected
crops, yield- and quality-wise,”
Dr Dohmen-Vereijssen said.
Discussions to start a research
project on TPP commenced
four years ago between Plant
& Food Research and PBCRC.
PBCRC Science Exchange
Psyllid nymphs on African boxthorn leaves. Image courtesy of PBCRC.