Previously unknown variant of potato wart disease discovered in the Netherlands

According to a report by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA), an unknown variant of wart disease was discovered in agricultural fields in the municipality of Stadskanaal in the north-east of the country. The new variant may have serious consequences for the control of wart disease in this region where potatoes are intensively cultivated, the Authority says.

The NVWA says it is conducting further research into the origin of the contamination and the possibilities for a targeted approach. Wart disease is a plant disease caused by the fungus Synchytrium endobioticum.

Unknown variant

The NVWA says it has determined – with the help of DNA research – that there is a variant (physio / pathotype) of the pathogen unknown to North-West Europe. It is being investigated whether it concerns a variant that already exists. The source of the contamination is also investigated. Among other things, the cultivation history of both infected parcels is being mapped.

Effects

It is unclear whether existing potato varieties with good resistance to \\wart disease variants known in the Netherlands are also resistant to the that has now been found. Warts have been found on 3 starch potato varieties (Festien, BMC and Supporter). Given the degree of resistance of these varieties to race 1, race 6 and race 18, this finding was unexpected.

Until it is clear how the current potato varieties respond to this new race, it is still impossible for growers in the immediate vicinity of the finds to determine which varieties can best be cultivated.

Resistance research

According to NVWA, a similar situation occurred in 2003, when physio 18 was first found in the Netherlands. This subsequently led to a collaboration with the sector to gain insight into the degree of resistance of important varieties in the area as quickly as possible. To make this possible again, the NVWA collects as much wart material as possible.

In addition, an experimental study is attempting to obtain an indication of which potato varieties may be resistant to this unknown variety.

You can read the original report in Dutch here.