Better quarantine mooted to curb alien pathogens

KOZHIKODE: The failure of Indian authorities in ensuring the bio-security of imported plants, vegetables, fruits and potting materials has resulted in the infiltration of dangerous pathogens that are threatening to wipe out the agriculture segment in the country.  The lack  of proper plant quarantine measures has aggravated the threat and agricultural experts have found the  destructive presence of various such foreign pathogens  in many parts of South India.

 

There was  an outbreak of pathogens  in tomato and potato crops  in Karnataka between 2005 -08  which wiped out the entire tomato and potato crops.

 

The Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI)  team had isolated the pathogen from several samples.

 

The CPCRI, Kasargod,  will submit  its recommendations for increased bio-security, which were compiled after a recent international conference on the subject, to the government of India.

 

“Different species of  phytophthora infect an array of plantations, tubers, spices, fruits, ornamental and vegetable crops in India and in some cases cause yield loss up to 80 percent,” Dr. P. Chowdappa, director, CPCRI, told DC.   He has done extensive studies on the threats posed by foreign pathogens, P. infestans on potato and tomato, P. boehemeriae on hot and bell pepper and P. nicotianae on brinjal, cucurbits and tomato. He had highlighted the dramatic increase in late blight problems on tomato and potato crops in India since 2008 due to the introduction of the 23-A2 clonal lineage from Europe.

 

“Poor implementation of plant  quarantine regulations during plant trade has led to serious disease outbreaks of late blight on potato and tomato in India since 2008,” Dr  Chowdappa added.

 

He said the  phytophthora infestans, that caused the Great Irish famine, which is being identified in potato and tomato crops in India, still remain  the most destructive pathogen of potato and tomato, causing crop losses up to $ 6.7 billion annually.  “The Indian forests  also  face threat from P. ramorum, a pathogen that has hit parts of Europe and North America. “This underlines the need for setting up of better bio-security measures to prevent such outbreaks,” he added.

 

The plant and seed imports can be checked only at the plant quarantine regional unit. Kerala does not have one and the nearest  is in Chennai.  All consumables are quarantined at the plant quarantine centres and there are three in Kerala. 

 

Imported consignments are taken to the unit for visual examination, which is just a procedure as fruits and vegetables come packed.

 

Samples are taken for further examination only when officials suspect an infection either by a weed or by insects.