04/21/06 Potato cyst nematode found in Idaho

State and federal agriculture officials have confirmed the discovery of potato cyst nematode in a soil sample collected from an Idaho potato processing facility. While there's no human health threat this nematode if unchecked can reduce potato yields by as much as 80 percent. O'DELL "Patches of poor growth general occur, sometimes with yellowing or wilting or death of the foliage and even with minor symptoms on the foliage the potato size can be affected." Melissa O'Dell with USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service says two cysts, the size of pinheads, were found in the samples tested at the University of Idaho. There have been nine thousand tested soil samples since 2003, none showing nematodes until now. APHIS and ISDA have isolated the origin of the nematodes to a pair of fields, totaling 500 acres on an Idaho farm. O'Dell says crop rotation is one way to rid the field of this pest. O'DELL "The common recommendation is seven years without potatoes in order to reduce the populations to a significant degree." How did the nematode get there? It could have been the seed, that's why scientists are now trying to trace the origin. Soil and potatoes from the fields and a processing facility have been quarantined while more testing goes on. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott