Psyllid pest funding

MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release

28 July 2009

Funding aims to rid horticulture industry of psyllid pest

The horticulture industry has launched a $1.5m three-year project to tackle the psyllid, a pest which has the potential to decimate the potato, tomato, tamarillo and capsicum industries in New Zealand.

The project, which aims to identify how to manage the pest, will see growers provided with access to information and options for managing the pest.

An effective insecticide programme will be developed for potato, greenhouse and tamarillo production, which will include minimising unnecessary spray applications.

A cost-effective, quick system for determining the health status of plants will also be developed. This will allow the potato seed industry to ensure they are providing growers with disease-free material and assist greenhouse growers in making decisions on plant extraction when symptoms of the pest are observed.

Dr Sonia Whiteman of Horticulture New Zealand says, “Very little is known about how to treat infected crops. This new research programme will help protect an industry that could otherwise be decimated by this insect.” 

Key to the success of the project will be the collaboration of the horticulture industry, with support from government.

The MAF Sustainable Farming Fund contributed over half the cash value of the project with a grant of $600,000.
 
The research is funded jointly by Potatoes NZ, Fresh Tomato Product Group, Fresh Vegetable, the NZ Tamarillo Association, McCains, Talley’s, Bluebird and Mr Chips. Heinz-Watties is also supporting the initiative and it is anticipated that many agri-chemical companies will support the research too.

The psyllid was first discovered in New Zealand in 2006 in tomato crops. In the last few seasons it has migrated to capsicum, tamarillo and potato crops (both members of the same plant family), causing lower yields. These industries had a combined export value of $127.8m in 2007.

 For the most part, consumers won’t notice any difference as the crops are still nutritious and edible. However in potatoes there may be some visual and textural differences.

The psyllid, a small plant-feeding insect, affects crops in various ways, meaning collaboration across the horticulture sector is vital to ensuring eradication.

ENDS

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