Plant Industry Laboratory staff diagnoses plant diseases and nematodes of agricultural crops and ornamentals supporting Plant Industry bureau’s duties with regard to inspection, survey, disease detection and export certification. 2007 crop highlights are: Potato Cyst Nematode Survey – No suspects so far. Soybean Viruses & Asian Soybean Rust – More Soybean dwarf virus but no rust. Seed Corn – Stewart’s wilt in one county. Soybean Cyst Nematode Map – Still number one economic pest of soybeans!

Potato Cyst Nematode Survey

During winter of 2006 USDA APHIS initiated an exhaustive nation-wide survey of potato fields for potato cyst nematodes, after Pale potato cyst nematode (PCN) had been detected in Idaho and Golden nematode in Quebec, CD earlier that year. The two cyst nematodes, pale potato cyst nematode (Globodera pallida) and the Golden nematode (Globodera rostochiensis) are both economically significant quarantine pests. Nematodes are microscopic, worm-like creatures, whose females form an egg-filled resting stage called a cyst. They feed on the roots of solanaceous crops like potatoes, tomatoes and eggplants. Potato Cyst Nematodes are widespread throughout Europe and South America, but are only known to occur in few locations in North America. The Pale potato cyst nematode, in Newfoundland, CD and the Golden nematode in parts of British Columbia, Newfoundland, CD and New York.