Experts: Don’t panic over zebra chip potato disease
After a teleconference discussion Tuesday morning, several experts say there’s no need to panic over the zebra chip disease that could impact Idaho’s potato crop.
Dr. Phil Nolte, with Idaho’s Center for Potato Research and Education, said he spoke with a group that included two entomologists and a potato specialist, who all agreed growers should be aware of the disease, but not go spraying their fields in fear.
Nolte said the difficulty is a lack of experience in dealing with this zebra chip. If it is found in eastern Idaho, they’ll let people know. But, for now, Nolte said, he and others will continue to monitor various fields.
“I think the main thing was we decided we want to remind everyone that we have not found any disease yet. (We) don’t have any potatoes that have succumbed to this,” said Nolte. “All we’ve done is detected some insects that are carrying the bacteria and cause it.”
Nolte said there are no related health impacts for people or animals. In most cases, the disease affects taste, but can also mean crop or quality loss.
