UK strawberry growers are being warned to be on the look out for a new disease.
The disease is angular leaf spot (Zanthomonas fragariae), a bacterial disease that could be easily introduced into the country on imported material, which does not necessarily display any symptoms.
Although there are no cases in the UK yet, it is already established in Europe and America. David Stead, head of environmental and food microbiology at Defra, said: “The disease has reached a level in Europe where I would not be surprised if it made its way into the UK.
Stead believes that although the disease would not be devastating to the UK industry it would have an impact through plant losses and time and money spent on control measures. He added: “The most cost effective solution is to keep the disease out of the UK.”
Young, rapidly growing plants are most at risk and cool temperatures with regular rainfall and irrigation favours disease spread.