Tassie on alert for new pest

TOMATO potato psyllid (TPP), a tiny pest insect that feeds on plants, has been detected in southwest Victoria, within a small area on the Bellarine Peninsula, with the initial detection in a tomato production facility. 

Surveillance has detected TPP at an additional five locations within 1.5 km of the initial detection point. 

Agriculture Victoria is investigating the situation and is implementing controls to limit the spread. Biosecurity Tasmania is currently reviewing the Victorian incursion and whether any additional controls may need to be implemented to reduce the risk of TPP being transmitted to Tasmania. 

TPP can easily spread by wind, machinery and vehicles so it is important to remain vigilant and follow import requirements if importing hosts and carriers, especially those from Western Australia and Victoria. 

The tomato potato psyllid (Bactericera cockerelli) is a tiny sap-sucking insect that attacks a range of plants in the Solanaceae family which includes potato, tomato, egg plant, capsicum, chilli and tamarillo. It also attacks sweet potato. 

Adults resemble small, winged cicadas and are about 3mm long. The body is brownish and has white or yellowish markings on the thorax and a broad white band on the abdomen. Their wings are transparent and held vertically over their body. 

The nymphs have flattened oval pale yellow to green or orange scale-like bodies and red eyes. More mature nymphs have wing buds and are fringed with hairs. 

Eggs are often found on the lower leaf surface or along the leaf stalk. They are less than 1mm long, orange to yellow or green with a short stalk. 

When present in a crop, the noticeable signs of the tomato potato psyllid include: 

• Insects jumping from the foliage when disturbed. 

• Severe wilting of plants when there are large numbers of psyllids feeding. 

• Yellowing of leaf margins and upward curling of the leaves. 

• White sugar-like granules that are excreted by adults and nymphs. These granules coat the plant leaves and stems and can lead to the development of sooty mould.

Honeydew and psyllid sugar make the plants sticky and plants often appear dirty. 

Shortening of stem internodes occurs. The death of the stem is similar to other potato and tomato disorders. 

Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (CLso) is a bacterium associated with ‘zebra chip’ dis ease in potatoes. It is not currently found in Australia. 

Zebra chip disease results in reduced crop yield and crop health, stem death, yellowing of leaf tissue, and misshapen tubers. 

Neither the psyllid nor the bacterium pose a risk to human health. 

Biosecurity Tasmania encourages growers, importers and home gardeners to monitor their plants, particularly host species such as tomato, potato, capsicum, chilli, eggplant and sweet potato. 

When inspecting host fruit and vegetables, pay particular attention to any green material on the produce, such as the calyx, and look for eggs, nymphs or adults. 

When inspecting host nursery stock and cut flowers, look for signs of chlorosis, stunting, leaf narrowing, curling or cup ping, leaf purpling and fruit distortion and shortened inter nodes in tomatoes. 

Report any suspect find ings to Biosecurity Tasmania. Secure the affected plants if possible and take photos if you can. 

Contact: 03 6165 3777 or email: Biosecurity.Tasmania@nre.tas.gov.au 

For more information about TPP please see Tomato potato psyllid webpage.