The number of cases of a potentially devastating soil-borne bacterium that could cause significant potato production problems in Scottish seed potatoes has doubled.

The Scottish Government yesterday admitted it had found two more cases of Dickeya solani during inspections of growing crops last summer in undisclosed locations in Grampian and south-east Scotland.

It said the information had been relayed to industry in a leaflet produced by Sasa, the Scottish agricultural science agency, last December. But none of the growers and industry leaders spoken to yesterday by the P&J said they were aware of the information being released.

The latest incidents follow the disease, a more virulent form of blackleg, being found in innovator ware grown at Coupar Angus in May and in Vivaldi ware samples taken from a farm at Arbroath in November last year, but only confirmed after test results were released last week.

In all four cases, the bacterium has come from seed that originates in the Netherlands, where Dickeya solani is endemic, and then multiplied through the once-grown process in England before being sent to Scotland.

Edinburgh-based British Potato Trade Association secretary Charlie Greenslade is to issue new advice to his members in the coming days on the threat that Dickeya solani poses.