Responding to the establishment of new pests and diseases: What can be learnt from tomato potato psyllid and Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum in New Zealand?

Abstract

The response to the incursion of tomato potato psyllid (TPP), Bactericera cockerelli (Šulc) (Hemiptera: Triozidae) and the pathogen Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (CLso), first recorded in New Zealand in 2006 and 2008, respectively, has been well documented. However, development of a bioprotection research programme to underpin effective crop production in the presence of TPP/CLso has not. This paper examines the strategic and operational responses of the main Crown Research Institute involved, in parallel with industry actions, in terms of the co-ordination, prioritisation and implementation of a proportionally increasing research programme, after it became clear that eradication of these organisms was not feasible. The establishment of TPP/CLso in New Zealand underlines the fragility of current integrated pest management (IPM) systems and the challenges faced by small industries to the establishment of poorly understood organisms with complex pest/disease/host plant interactions whose impacts were not immediately obvious. Insights are provided into how a research response to similar establishments might be developed in the future.