The rise and rise of Bactericera cockerelli in potato crops in Canterbury

Tomato potato psyllid (TPP), Bactericera cockerelli (Sulc) (Hemiptera: Triozidae), was first recorded in the North Island of New Zealand in 2006. Three years later, the insect was found in the Oamaru area (South Island). Over the years there has been a rise in TPP numbers trapped in potato crops in Canterbury (South Island). Recently, increased prevalence and severity of foliar and tuber symptoms related to plant infection with Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (CLso), vectored by TPP, have been observed in trials and in commercial potato crops. Moreover, in the 2013-14 season the resulting zebra chip disease was observed for the first time in tubers at a processing plant in Canterbury. It is concluded that Canterbury has a landscape where hosts are available year-round and a climate that does not seem to hinder TPP development. The aim of this paper is to present a stocktake of TPP in Canterbury.