Australia: Potato industry studies winds that could carry damaging insect from New Zealand

Trade winds or cyclones could potentially carry a disease-carrying insect from New Zealand to Australia, posing a threat to Australia’s potato industry. Australian researchers say strong winds could carry the tomato potato psyllid across the Tasman Sea. A new project is hoping to identify the most likely pathway. AUSVEG spokesman Shaun Lindhe said the psyllid carries zebra chip, a disease which would damage potato crops if it arrived in Australia. More