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USDA cracks code behind zebra chip

Feb. 10, 2012 - Researchers with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) have identified the pest and bacteria that are causing problems for potato growers.

The next step is to determine the best way to prevent the two culprits, the potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli, from feeding on and infecting potato crops with the Zebra chip bacterium, Liberibacter solanacearum.

In an article from the USDA website, the short-term goals for this research are to jelp growers improve the timing and uses of insecticides to prevent the psyllid and bacteria from grabbing a foothold.

"Over the longer term, researchers aim to recommend alternative controls for use in integrated approaches to managing the disease, according to Joseph Munyaneza, an entomologist at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Yakima Agricultural Research Laboratory in Wapato, Washington."

For the complete article, please go to the USDA website here.

February 10, 2012  By USDA