Scientific Opinion on the risks to plant health posed by European versus non-European populations of the potato cyst nematodesGlobodera pallidaandGlobodera rostochiensis

Abstract

The Panel on Plant Health has delivered a scientific opinion on the different risks posed by European and non-European populations of the potato cyst nematodes (PCN) Globodera pallida and Globodera rostochiensis to solanaceous plants in the EU and on the effectiveness of current control measures. Although PCN, particularly G. rostochiensis, are widespread in the EU, crop damage is limited because breeders have been able to develop varieties that are resistant to the small number of genotypes that are present. These genotypes represent a minor subset of the gene pool and virulence that is present in South America. As new South American genotypes are very likely to have a similar potential for establishment and spread as existing European genotypes, the potato varieties currently grown in Europe will not be resistant to new virulent genotypes. As resistant varieties take a very long time to develop, the consequences of a new introduction of South American PCN would be major. The Panel therefore concluded that it is very important to maintain the current phytosanitary measures to prevent the entry of South American PCN. However, uncertainties over the effectiveness of the measures in Annex IVAI relating to place of production freedom and soil origin were noted, and the Panel identified additional risk reduction options for certain plants for planting (e.g. bulbs) and additional requirements to confirm the absence of PCN in places of production. The Panel also identified some problems with the existing control measures to reduce the spread of PCN within the EU. A thorough and well-coordinated EU-wide survey using standardized methods would be necessary to evaluate the need to maintain these measures. The monitoring of PCN populations should exploit new diagnostic techniques (e.g. mitochondrial DNA sequences) to ensure that the resistance available is deployed appropriately. for the preparatory work on this scientific opinion, the hearing experts: Eric Grenier and Sue Hockland for their presentations on the biology of the organisms, and EFSA staff: Virág Kertész for the support provided to this scientific opinion.

The current state of the population of the golden potato cyst nematode Globodera rostochiensis (Nematoda, Heteroderidae) in the northwest of Ukraine

“…The golden potato cyst nematode G. rostochiensis is a harmful pest. Monitoring its distribution and density control is an important problem for scientists both in Ukraine (Pylypenko, 1998;Sіgareva & Pylypenko, 1998;Polozhenets et al, 2010;Sіgareva et al, 2010) and all over the world (Brodie, & Mai, 1989;Baker et al, 2012). The life cycle of the golden potato cyst nematode is covered sufficiently well in the literature (Philis, 1980;Renčo, 2007;Minnis et al, 2012;Przetakiewicz, 2013;Mimee et al, 2015), and its general details are well observed for northwestern Ukraine.…”

“…The golden potato cyst nematode Globodera rostochiensis (Wollenweber, 1923) Skarbilovich, 1959 is the greatest threat to the production of potatoes around the world (Baker et al, 2012). The nematode persists in soil for 10 to 12 years, sometimes up to 20 years (Philis, 1980;Polozhenets et al, 2010).…”

Pest survey card on Globodera rostochiensis and Globodera pallida

“…The information presented in this pest survey card was summarised from Council Directive 2007/33/EC 1 , a recent pest risk assessment on Globodera pallida and Globodera rostochiensis for the EU territory made by EFSA (EFSA PHL Panel, 2012), European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO) standards on phytosanitary measures (EPPO, 2018) and diagnostic protocol PM7/40(4) (EPPO, 2017), International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (FAO 2017a, FAO, 2017b, datasheets and other scientific documents.…”