Extensive Damage to Crops Caused by Stolbur Disease
Veggie Disaster: The Creeping Threat of Stolbur
Farmers across Germany are bracing themselves against a menacing menace that's causing heavy losses and, in some cases, total crop failure. This rather innocuous insect has set its sights on potatoes, celery, and other vegetables, leaving farmers desperate for a solution.
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Karlsruhe/Stuttgart - A plant disease, Stolbur, is wreaking havoc on potato and vegetable farmers across Germany, especially in sugar beets and potatoes. In the state of Baden-Württemberg, the Stuttgart Ministry of Agriculture reports significant yield and quality losses in crops such as red beets, celery, cabbage, onions, and carrots. This insect pest is said to pose a "serious threat" to the domestic supply of potatoes, vegetables, and sugar.
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A Farmer's Worry
The head of the German Farmers' Association, Joachim Rukwied, is deeply concerned about the burgeoning spread of the reed glass-winged cicada. This insect has already made its way from Baden-Württemberg to Rhineland-Palatinate, Bavaria, and Hesse, and has now been detected in Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. Rukwied demands immediate action against the cicadas.
Losses Galore, Particularly in the Southwest
The environmental representative of the Baden-Württemberg State Farmers' Association, Isabell Pergner, reported that there were yield losses of up to 25% with reduced sugar content in all relevant beet-growing areas in Baden-Württemberg last year. Losses of up to 70% were witnessed in the potato crop.
"In some operations, the continued cultivation of the crop is at risk," said Pergner. The disease is rapidly evolving into a major economic risk for entire regions. Therefore, urgent steps must be taken to approve effective pesticides and support research on resistance development and sustainable control strategies.
Authorities and associations confirm that Stolbur is not harmful to human health. Furthermore, potatoes and vegetables with rubbery consistency or signs of rot are not sold.
[Stolbur Insight]Stolbur, caused by Candidatus Phytoplasma solani, is a bacterial disease that affects various crops, particularly potatoes. Symptoms include aerial tubers, reddening and upward rolling of the top leaves, and reduced leaf size, which can significantly impact the quality of processed potato products. Silent but deadly, the disease can result in dark, rubbery fries, much like those caused by zebra chip disease.
Currently, there is no information available regarding Stolbur in Germany, but the lack of reported cases in the UK suggests that monitoring for this disease might be necessary in regions where it could potentially spread. Regular PCR tests and other diagnostic techniques aid early detection of such pathogens.
Prevention and management strategies typically involve controlling the leafhopper vector population through insecticides or mesh barriers. Early detection, achieved through regular diagnostic tests, is crucial for effective management of Stolbur.
Science should focus on developing effective pesticides to combat the spread of Stolbur, a bacterial disease affecting potatoes and other crops, which is rapidly becoming an economic risk for certain regions. Health-and-wellness and fitness-and-exercise enthusiasts may need to be aware of a potential impact on the quality of processed potato products, such as rubbery fries, due to Stolbur infection.
