In a significant blow to the vegetable industry in Western Australia the tomato potato psyllid has been found in three regional locations outside of the Perth quarantine zone. The Department of Agriculture and Food WA (DAFWA) chief plant biosecurity officer John van Schagen said he now suspects the psyllid could have been in the state for two or more years. “Seeing it is right across the metropolitan area and now those regional areas it could mean that it’s been here for two or more years,” he said. It was found in Australia for the first time in early February when it was discovered in a Perth vegetable crop. Tomato potato psyllid is an exotic plant pest which feeds on tomato, potato, capsicum, chilli, tamarillo, sweet potato and solanaceous weeds like nightshade, leading to loss of plant vigour and yield. More
