How a potato virus found its way into Tasmania’s North West and how far it’s infiltrated is being investigated.
It’s the first time potato mop top virus has been discovered in Australia.
Primary Industries Minister Gavin Pearce is mobilising a response to prevent it spreading.
“Potatoes are an incredibly important industry for this state, it affects the plant in the leaves, the stem and the tubers, it’s completely safe to humans.”
The state’s Chief Plant Protection Officer, Dr Susanna Driessen notes the virus has only been found in one location at this point.
“We’re quite early in the stage of this detection, so what we are doing at the moment is working with industry, working with the grower to understand where material might have moved and also potentially how material came onto the property.”
Photo by John Fabris
