Colombia’s ICA warns of the presence of a disease in potato crops in the department of Nariño

The Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA) confirmed the presence of phytoplasmas associated with the Punta Morada de la Papa (PMP) disease in potato crops in Nariño. Thus, the agency issued a resolution establishing phytosanitary measures for the surveillance and control of the vector insect of this disease, Bactericera cockerelli Sulc (Hemiptera: Triozidae), in potato crops in that department.

According to the institute, 40% of the crops monitored in the first semester of 2021 had symptoms and related to PMP, such as curling of the leaflets with yellow to purple colorations, growth retardation of the plants, proliferation of shoots, and presence of aerial tubers located in the upper part of the plant.

“These symptoms were observed in places of production located in the municipalities of: Aldana, Contadero, Cordoba, Cuaspud, Cumbal, Funes, Guachucal, Guaitarilla, Gualmatan, Ipiales, Ospina, Pasto, Potosi, Puerres, Pupiales, Sapuyes, Tangua, Tuquerres and Yacuanquer, in the department of Nariño,” the ICA stated.

The resolution contemplates the following actions that must be implemented in a timely manner by producers:

Preventive phytosanitary measures: using healthy seeds; disposing of harvest residues in an adequate manner; carrying out crop rotation with plant species that don’t host the vector insect; conducting proper soil preparation for the next planting.
Phytosanitary measures for B. cockerelli: carrying out direct monitoring of plants; indirect monitoring through the use of yellow traps to capture adults; implementing an Integrated Pest Management program.

Phytosanitary measures for PMP: timely monitoring to identify plants with symptoms associated with PMP; proper removal of plants that have symptoms associated with PMP.

Source: Sistema Integrado de Información / rcnradio.com 

Publication date: Mon 27 Sep 2021