Tomato growers have been urged to monitor their crops following the detection of tomato potato psyllid in a glasshouse at a tomato production facility on the Bellarine Peninsula.
Tomato potato psyllid (TPP; Bactericera cockerelli) is a small insect that feeds on hosts such as tomato, potato, eggplant, chili and capsicum.
A glasshouse tomato producer reported an insect infestation to Agriculture Victoria.
Surveillance has since found TPP at further locations within 1.5km of the glasshouse.
TPP can spread a serious plant disease known as ‘zebra chip’ in potatoes when it is linked with the Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (CLso) bacterium. CLso has not been detected.
Victoria’s chief plant health officer Dr Rosa Crnov said the early detection of TPP would enable Victorian producers and gardeners to step up vigilant monitoring and ensure crops are safeguarded from exotic biosecurity threats.
“To support the surveillance activities, tomato producers are encouraged to monitor their crops and to contact Agriculture Victoria if they suspect that TPP might be present,” Dr Crnov said.
Commercial and residential growers of host crops are advised to regularly check their crops for signs of TPP, which can be found on the underside of leaves.
When present in a crop, noticeable signs of TPP include:
insects jumping from the foliage when disturbed
severe wilting of plants caused by high numbers of psyllids feeding
yellowing of leaf margins and upward curling of the leaves
white sugar-like granules which coat the plant leaves and stems, and can lead to the development of sooty mould
ants present on the plant, collecting the sugar-like granules
stem death symptoms similar to other potato and tomato disorders.
An investigation is underway to understand where the incursion may have originated and how far TPP has spread from the site.
To report the suspected presence of TPP visit the Agriculture Victoria website or call the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.
