European organizations call for a plan against vector-borne diseases in potatoes and beets

Four European organizations from the beet and potato sectors (CIBE, EUPPA, Europatat, and VHPZ) have warned of the spread "at an increasingly rapid rate" of vector-borne diseases threatening these crops. The pathogenic bacteria Candidatus Phytoplasma solani and Candidatus Arsenophonus phytopathogenicus, responsible in particular for the "low richness syndrome," can cause massive yield and quality losses. These diseases are transmitted by an insect from the cicadellid family, a species of leafhopper, Pentastiridius leporinus, and are advancing due to climate change and "some counterproductive requirements (such as the requirement for minimal crop cover, which allows the insects to survive the winter), as well as being exacerbated by the loss of many effective crop protection tools in recent years." The four organizations urge the European Commission to take action, starting with emergency aid financed by the EU and the affected Member States, for farmers with yield losses caused by ...