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Completed project

Diagnostic capability to detect Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (CLso) (PT17000)

Key research provider: The Victorian Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (DEDJTR)
Publication date: Thursday, December 13, 2018

What was it all about?

Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (CLso) represents a serious threat to the potato industry. The bacterium can be carried by the tomato potato psyllid, first detected in Australia in early 2017, and is associated with ‘zebra chip’ disease, which is able to cause large economic losses in potato crops.

This investment was about bolstering efforts to monitor for and contain CLso. It involved research at a New Zealand site to look at the natural distribution of the bacterium throughout an infected field and specific plants, to develop improved sampling guidelines. This produced one of the first detailed accounts of the bacterium in field grown potato plants.

The project team also assessed an in-field diagnostic tool for detecting CLso, validating the approach as a rapid and easy-to-use option for plant health field officers to consider. They also worked with laboratories across Australia and New Zealand to determine technical proficiency in using the current CLso laboratory testing protocol – both providing a training exercise and evidence that diagnostic capability exists in multiple labs across the country.

Details

ISBN:
This project was funded through Hort Innovation using multiple industry levies and contributions from the Australian Government. Copyright: Copyright © Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited 2021. The Final Research Report (in part or as a whole) cannot be reproduced, published, communicated or adapted without the prior written consent of Hort Innovation, except as may be permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth).978 0 7341 4522 2 

Funding statement:
This project was funded through the Hort Innovation Potato – Fresh and Potato – Processing Funds using the potato – fresh and potato – processing R&D levy and contributions from the Australian Government.

Copyright:
Copyright © Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited 2019. The Final Research Report (in part or as a whole) cannot be reproduced, published, communicated or adapted without the prior written consent of Hort Innovation, except as may be permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth).