Netherlands: New discoveries of brown rot in seed potatoes are a major setback, according to LTO

A tracing study shows that around 22 seed potato companies across the Netherlands are involved in the brown rot finds. 'After the incidental brown rot infections in previous years, this is another major expansion and also a major setback. As a sector, we are shocked by this. We had not hoped for this and it is certainly undesirable', says Berghuis, who is chairman of the LTO seed potato working group. The NVWA assumes that surface water is the most likely source of infection for all four new brown rot cases. The authority sees a connection with contaminated water blowing over plots. Furthermore, contamination can also occur if irrigation water from adjacent plots becomes misted and blows over a seed potato plantation. Summer storm Poly Berghuis refers to the fact that infections were found last year due to the summer storm Poly in July 2023. 'The NVWA investigation must show whether this year's infections may still be related to this. In any case, it is certain that we growers ...