Prince Edward Island’s provincial government won’t raise its three per cent cap on virus levels in seed potatoes for the 2008 season.
Agriculture Minister Neil LeClair made the announcement Tuesday, citing reports that virus levels in some varieties during the 2007 growing season exceeded levels from 2006.
“There was an increase in aphid infestation during the 2007 (season), which resulted in greater transmission of viruses,” LeClair said in a release. “Raising the cap on virus levels would result in more disease pressure on the crop in the coming growing season.”
P.E.I. is the only province to conduct post-harvest virus testing on seed potatoes. It set up the service several years ago, at industry’s request, to maintain the province’s advantage in the marketplace, it said in the release.
