Fifteen nematode sightings

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33773, 20 February 1975, Page 16

Fifteen nematode sightings

Confirmed discoveries of the potato cyst nematode in the northern part of Christchurch have now increased to about 15.

But the regional advisory officer of the Ministry of Agriculture in Christchurch, Mr D. G. Reynolds, said yesterday that as a large number of properties had now been inspected this indicated a falling-off in sightings since toe last report of 12, last Thursday. He was relieved to find that the infected land «nneared to be within welldefined boundaries, and with the co-oneration being received from growers, merchants. and Ministry staff, early fears of considerable disruntion of the potatogrowmg industry would not now be realised.

Mr C. C. East, the chairman of the Waimairi Potato Growers’ Association, said yesterday that as the investigation into the incidence of the pest was being extended less of it was being found. SEARCH CONTINUES

But the search for the pest is continuing. Mr Reynolds said that the northern part of Christchurch where the pest had first been discovered contined about 3000 acres, and a quarter to a third of this was in potatoes. About half of the area had been inspected. Seedgrowing areas in other Darts of Canterbury were also being searched. About 20 per cent of the area entered for certification had been sampled, and all crops had been found to be clear of the nematode. Under the Potato Cyst Nematode Regulations, 1974. the Minister of Agriculture has power to declare infested areas, and it is under stood that a Gazette notice soon will declare an infested area in the Christchurch dis-i

trict, with a property specified as a focal point. Ministry staff will then have the power to direct the movement of crops and machinery, packaging materials and other goods from the affected land.

Mr Reynolds said that preventing the movement of soil, and hence the nematodes, from an infected area was the “whole object of the PYprcicp MINISTRY EMPHATIC

Mr. East said that the Ministry was emphatic that everything possible be done to contain the problem, and this was also the desire of growers.

At the meeting of growers on Tuesday .evening a soil scientist and Ministry representative had emphasised the importance of crop rotation in reducing the incidence of the pest, and when it was possible to resume growing potatoes on infested land it was likely that growers would have to return to planting the crop once in five or six years, as had been recommended in the past as prudent. Both Mr Reynolds and Mr East yesterday deprecated reports that growers were angry about the handling of the problem. “We have had no evidence whatsoever of angry growers,” said Mr Reynolds. “On the contrary, growers have been most helpful, and this attitude can only be to everyone’s advantage.”

Mr East said he did not think that growers were angry. Everyone had naturally been concerned until they had had an opportunity of hearing the full story of the significance of the nematodes and their effects.

Of the meeting of growers, he said that questions asked had been relevant, and he Thought that the answers i given had been satisfactory to Igrowers.

A working committee o growers, merchants, anc Ministry representatives was formed with the object oi ironing out difficulties and ensuring as little inconvenience as possible to growers, merchants, and consumers. Mr East said he was confident that all growers would be able to dig and sell their potatoes without inconveniencing consumers and with minimum inconvenience to themselves. They would have to satisfy the Ministry that the vegetables were free of soil. It was also important that the pest had no adverse effect on the quality of the potatoes. The Ministry, growers, and the trade were! co-operating to help growers recover their crops, | Mr Reynolds said. There was no suggestion that the Ministry had been aware of the presence of the nematode in the area before. There had been no agronomic evidence to suggest its presence. There was no way of determining how long it had been in the district, or how it had arrived.

Where land infested with the nematode had to be fumigated, it was assumed, on precedents in the North Island, that there would be no cost to the grower, but the land would have to be prepared for treatment.

The horticultural superintendent of the Ministry of Agriculture in Auckland, Mr S. P. Money, said yesterday that he was optimistic that it would be possible to contain the pest in a given area. At Pukekohe, where the nematode was first found, more efficient search methods were being used, but fewer of the nematodes were being found. Where infested land was

f fumigated and then put into crops that would not propagate the cysts, the pest would be reduced to a controllable level, said Mr Money.