Every effort is made to prevent contamination of seed stocks by ring rot bacteria. The following mechanisms each contribute to the reduction of the risk of Bacterial Ring Rot:
Maintenance of pedigree records on all seed lots certified by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Records are maintained from generation to generation on all seed stocks produced in the province.
- All seed potatoes produced originate from disease free nuclear stocks.
- Limited field generation production system (flush-through production).
- Inspections of the growing crop for Bacterial Ring Rot.
- Tuber inspections at harvest or in the bin shortly after harvest.
- Frequent tuber inspections at shipping point.
- Seed trace backs on Bacterial Ring Rot occurrences in commercial potato production.
- Laboratory testing of all seed lots for the presence of Bacterial Ring Rot.
- Total rejection of all seed produced on a farm where a seed lot is determined to be infected with Bacterial Ring Rot.
- Seed grower diligence in preventing Bacterial Ring Rot introduction which includes disinfecting all equipment and buildings involved in the harvesting, handling and storage of seed potatoes.