Potato brown rot - 2003 monitoring
The June/July 2003 monitoring programme has been completed.
The results of monitoring on watercourses associated with the Fossdyke Navigation and River Witham are available here, and those for stretches of watercourses subject to the woody nightshade treatment programme are available here. (For links to pdf files use magnifying glass - Zoom-in tool within documents to enlarge).
Results of particular significance include:
Fossdyke/Witham programme
- Detection of the Ralstonia solanacearum organism in the Fossdyke
Navigation between the River Trent and the sites where positive samples
were taken in the 2002 programme; the whole of this watercourse was
designated in 2003
- Detection of the organism in the River Trent at the point where it
feeds into the Fossdyke Navigation
- As a result of the positive finding in the River Trent, further samples
were taken from the stretch of this river south of the point where it
feeds into the Fossdyke Navigation. The organism was detected at 3 of
the 6 additional sites sampled and the full results are available here
- The organism was not detected in samples taken from the ditches and drains associated with the Fossdyke Navigation and River Witham
Treated watercourses programme
- Over 4,000 woody nightshade plants were treated along these stretches
- The organism was not detected at 72% of the sites sampled
- Of the 8 watercourses where the organism was detected, 4 of these (IDB 121, Stanground Lode, Witham and Fossdyke Navigation) were newly designated in March 2003. Positive samples were detected in the other 4 watercourses (IDB 113, Loddon, Back River, Great Ouse) in 2002
These results represent completion of the first phase of the 2003 monitoring programme. The second phase will be carried out in September. In addition to the second round of sampling on treated watercourses, there will be further sampling at relevant sites on the Rivers Trent and Witham and the Fossdyke Navigation, to follow up or complete findings from the June phase. Full details of the sites to be included are available here.
The 2003 national survey of watercourses is also due to take place in September. This will focus on the Rivers Trent, Derwent, Ouse and their tributaries and the River Hull. Full details of the programme will be published shortly.
Although no decisions will be made about possible designations or de-designations of watercourses until the 2003 programme has been completed, potato and tomato growers who are currently irrigating or spraying from the River Trent will wish to consider the implications arising from the positive findings in that watercourse. The extended River Trent survey referred to above will help to determine the extent of contamination and therefore the extent of new designations, but please contact your local PHSI in the meantime if you are concerned that your business may be affected.
Page last modified:
30 Oct 2006
Page published: 3 May 2003