High quality certified seed potatoes
Potato Spindle Tuber Viroid (PSTVd) has not been reported in potatoes in Australia. To support this claim AuSPICA has conducted ongoing surveillance of Potato Spindle Tuber Viroid. This has involved leaf collection from around 10% of the total area of each certified seed potato grower. For the past two years, since commencing surveillance, there have been no reported detection's of PSTVd in all certified seed crops sampled. In addition to the field surveillance, it is a requirement that all tissue culture material entering the Scheme have a negative laboratory test for PSTVd. The efforts to determine that PSTVd is known not to occur in certified seed potato production supports market access for both interstate and export trade.
The surveillance supports the field inspection reports in that the symptoms of PSTVd have never been recorded. AuSPICA can provide evidence to support the claim that PSTVd is known not to occur.
