A New Bacteria May Cause Zebra Chip

A new species of Candidatus Liberibacter bacteria may be causing zebra chip disease in potatoes. Named zebra chip (ZC) because infected tubers form dark stripes when they’re cut and fried to make chips or fries, the disease was first detected in 2000 in Texas. Since then it has spread to Arizona, California, Nevada and other western states, causing losses to range in the millions.

Advertisement

In 2007, Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists completed studies pointing to the potato psyllid as an insect that transmits ZC. In 2008, New Zealand researchers, followed by University of California-Riverside scientists, announced their discovery of genetic evidence, indicating that a new species of Candidatus bacterium causes ZC.

Eating potatoes infected with ZC poses no consumer danger, according to Joseph Munyaneza, an ARS entomologist who’s studied zebra chip since it was detected in Texas. According to Munyaneza, potato growers had been spraying crops with insecticides to stop psyllids from transmitting ZC. Until the 2008 discovery, however, they didn’t know what actually caused the disease. They only knew that it correlated to psyllid feeding. Now, with evidence pointing to a Candidatus species, growers have more information to go on.

Source: ARS News Service. www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/oct09/zebra1009.htm

Top Articles
Indoor Farming Insider Talks About Evolution of the Sector

0

Leave a Reply

Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:

We live in Indiana and raise about 2 acres of potatos I’ve noticed over the last few years our potatos have had a lot of dark strips in them, mostly in the white potatos, is this what you are talking about? Jerry H

Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:

Dear sir,

Zebra chip potato bacteriral disease is spread through a vector potato PSYLLID.Keeping in view of fast spreading of disease, it is necessary to focus on supressing and controling of psyllid pest, by which disease spread may be minimised on potato.
For control of psyllid pest, the organic pesticide developed in INDIA by agriculture biotechnology company. The product is based on plant alkaloids and it has proved effective on supressing psyllid infestations.
For further details may contact by email: [email protected]

Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:

We live in Indiana and raise about 2 acres of potatos I’ve noticed over the last few years our potatos have had a lot of dark strips in them, mostly in the white potatos, is this what you are talking about? Jerry H

Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:

Dear sir,

Zebra chip potato bacteriral disease is spread through a vector potato PSYLLID.Keeping in view of fast spreading of disease, it is necessary to focus on supressing and controling of psyllid pest, by which disease spread may be minimised on potato.
For control of psyllid pest, the organic pesticide developed in INDIA by agriculture biotechnology company. The product is based on plant alkaloids and it has proved effective on supressing psyllid infestations.
For further details may contact by email: [email protected]

Advertisement