Potato canker discovered in Skåne

Published 23 October 2024 at 06.24

Domestic. Potato canker has been found in potatoes at a producer in Kristianstad. It is the first new case in seven years. Potato canker is a fungus and a quarantine pest that can cause major damage in potato crops.

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The company where the potatoes are found is now taking measures to prevent the fungus from spreading further . At the same time, infection tracking is underway to find out where the infection is coming from and whether there is a risk of more potato fields being affected.

– All concerned have acted responsibly and professionally after the discovery and we are now working to ensure that no more potato farms will be affected. We urge all potato growers in the area around Kristianstad to be extra attentive during the collection season and report any findings to us, says Carin Bunnvik, head of unit at the plant regulation unit at the Swedish Agency for Agriculture, in a press release.

Symptoms are often seen in connection with fields which received large amounts of rain. When it is wet, fungal spores can germinate and develop infestations.

The batch in question, which consists of 200 tons of table potatoes, has been delivered to a facility for storage and sorting. Potatoes with growths were discovered there. The facility then reported a suspicion of potato canker to the Swedish Board of Agriculture. After diagnosis at an official laboratory in Denmark, the Swedish Agency for Agriculture concluded that it was potato canker. Infested potatoes are not dangerous to eat, but it is important to handle the potatoes so that the potato canker dies and does not spread further.

Potatoes must not be grown on a plot that is infested with potato canker. Spores can remain in the soil for a very long time. Machines and tools must be completely cleaned of soil before they are used on another farming unit. It is fine to grow other crops.