Source of Dutch Ralstonia infection remains unknown

A Ralstonia contamination found in a Dutch eggplant crop last May, is not caused by contaminated surface water. The exact source of the Ralstonia contamination is still unknown. This is demonstrated in a final report from the food safety administration NVWA.

The Ralostonia disease causes brown rot. In the infected greenhouse, 675 of the 3,980 plants were contaminated and plants and infected rock wool were directly destroyed. The greenhouse was heavily cleaned and disinfected and this October the soil was steamed.

An investigation has been conducted to find the source of the contamination.

Spreading

Ralstonia solanacearum is spread through ground, water, tools and people. Spreading within the crop can thus take place very rapidly for example through crop work.. The bacteria can also spread easily via water. This bacterium develops very fast at high greenhouse temperatures. Ralstonia is best known as a bacterial pathogen of potatoes but can also infect other crops, such as tomatoes and several ornamental crops. The bacterium is not considered to be a hazard for human health.

Roses
Last year, another persisteny variant of Ralstonia emerged in several rose greenhouses. Despite disinfection and hygiëne measures the bacteria returned this year in two of the 13 previously infected companies.

Publication date: Tue 22 Nov 2016