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Monitoring of Ralstonia solanacearum in Egyptian potatoes imported through the port of Ravenna (Italy) 1
Author(s) -
CALZOLARP A.,
CONTESSI A.,
MUCCIOLINI G.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
eppo bulletin
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.327
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 1365-2338
pISSN - 0250-8052
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2338.1998.tb00710.x
Subject(s) - ralstonia solanacearum , phytosanitary certification , ravenna , isolation (microbiology) , horticulture , veterinary medicine , biology , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , telecommunications , engineering , pathogen
Ware potatoes have been imported from Egypt into the EU through the port of Ravenna since 1992. It was not, however, until 1995 that phytosanitary inspections for Ralstonia solanacearum were carried out following official EU sampling and analysis procedures. The samples, consisting of 200 tubers each, were examined externally and internally to detect any symptoms of brown rot. Any tubers with suspect symptoms were immediately sent for bacteriological analysis using the direct isolation method. The detection of infected lots led to the identification in 1995 and 1996 of production areas contaminated by R. solanacearum. To limit the phytosanitary risk linked to the import of ware potatoes contaminated by this bacterium, controls of asymptomatic tuber samples were introduced in 1997 for every production area. These controls are carried out before the lots enter the EU. Sampling procedures are discussed, as well as the compatibility of the method adopted for bacteriological analysis with the perishable nature of the products in question.