1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 This document acts as The Scottish Government's Eradication and Containment Plan for potato ring rot. In conjunction with sections of the PHSI Handbook, it forms part of the Emergency Plan for the Plant Health Service in Scotland. This document will be reviewed and updated as necessary.
1.2 Potato ring rot is a serious bacterial disease of potato, caused by the bacterium Clavibacter michiganensis ssp. sepedonicus (Cms). It results in leaf and stem wilting and rots in the tuber. It is not indigenous in the UK and has never been found in Scotland. The aim of this contingency plan is to prevent the introduction of the disease to Scotland or, if found, to prevent its spread within Scotland.
1.3 Potato ring rot has been reported in a number of EC Member States including Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and The Netherlands. Outbreaks in the UK in Wales in 2003 and England in 2004 were eradicated. It is therefore important to maintain procedures to prevent the introduction of the disease.