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Department of Agriculture

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  1. Home
  2. Biosecurity and trade
  3. Pests, diseases and weeds
  4. Plant pests and diseases
  5. Identify priority plant pests and diseases
  6. ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ complex

Sidebar first - Pests diseases weeds

  • Plant pests and diseases
    • National action plans
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      • Urgent actions to protect against khapra beetle
        • Measures for plant products under the khapra beetle urgent actions
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      • International Symposium on Xylella fastidiosa

‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ complex

PLANT PEST

Pest
Potato tubers infected with Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (Image: Joseph E Munyaneza, USDA-ARS)
Pest
The tomato-potato psyllid (Bactericera cockerelli) is the insect needed to spread the bacterial infection causing Zebra chip. The tomato-potato psyllid (but not the bacterial disease) is found in Western Australia but not in other parts of the country. ©State of Western Australia (Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, WA)

‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ complex, including zebra chip

Exotic to Australia, one insect vector under management in WA

Features: Bacterial diseases, spread by the tiny psyllids, that causes stunted or abnormal growth in vegetable crops, including striping in potatoes

Where it's from: Central America, South America and North America, Europe, North Africa, Israel and New Zealand

How it spreads: Importation of infected plants and plant material or infected tomato-potato psyllids; local spread by infected psyllids

At risk: Crops including potato, tomato, carrot, capsicum and chillies

Report it

Keep it out

Zebra chip is caused by a bacterial infection (Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum) and an insect, the tiny tomato-potato psyllid (Bactericera cockerelli), carries the disease from plant to plant.

Zebra chip damages plants and reduces yields of many important crops including potato, tomato, carrot and other vegetables. The name of the disease comes from the characteristic dark stripes that it causes in potato resulting in yield reductions and unmarketable produce.

This exotic disease has caused significant damage to farming in both New Zealand and the United States, costing the international potato industry millions of dollars, and it is feared that the same would happen in Australia.

Stop the spread

Australia is free of the disease-causing bacterium but one of the psyllids that carries it, tomato potato psyllid, is now present in Western Australia. It was found there in March 2017, and since then, movements of anything, such as vegetables, that could spread it to the rest of the country have been banned.

Information on interstate movement restrictions are on the Interstate Quarantine website.

The tomato potato psyllid that came into WA from overseas was not infected with the disease-causing bacteria, but next time we might not be so lucky.

Importing goods

To keep zebra chip and related bacterium strains out of Australia, never ignore Australia’s strict biosecurity rules.

Import shipments may need to be treated and certified, so before you import, check our Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON).

What to look for

Look out for symptoms of the disease, and if you live outside of WA look for the tomato potato psyllid.

The disease causes symptoms of:

  • yellowing and/or purpling of leaves
  • stunted or abnormal growth
  • stem canker (ulcers)
  • wilting of leaves.

In potatoes:

  • dark blotches or stripes.

In carrots and tomatoes:

  • leaf curling
  • yellowing and/or purpling of leaves
  • stunting of roots.

In capsicum and chillies:

  • leaves turn pale green or yellow with spiky tips
  • stunting of leaves
  • plant death.

The tomato potato psyllid is a sap sucking insect that resembles a miniature cicada. It grows to about 3 mm long and is brown in colour with a broad white band on the abdomen.
 

A tiny brown insect with transparent wings sits next to a five cent coin on a white background.
Tomato potato psyllid is only a few millimetres long. ©State of Western Australia (Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, WA)
A creamy-yellow potato cut in half showing brown lines radiating out from the centre.
Discolouration of potatoes caused by zebra chip. New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries

Where to look

Importers

Imported plant material poses the greatest risk of the bacterial disease and the tomato potato psyllid making it to Australia.  

Growers and home gardeners

Look for disease symptoms and, if you live outside of WA, the tomato potato psyllid in:

  • potato
  • tomato
  • capsicum
  • carrots
  • eggplant
  • celery.

Once potatoes are cut, the disease can be easily distinguished. If they are fried, striped patterns of discoloration will be evident in the potato tubers, and potato chips will taste and look burnt.

'a cutting of a plant with green stems and leaves on white background. Three red arrows have been added to the image to point to swollen shoots'.
Potato plant showing the symptoms of zebra chip. Note the stunted and swollen shoots (arrows). Dr. Lia Liefting, University of Florida. New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries

What to do

If you think you’ve found the tomato potato psyllid outside of Western Australia, or signs of zebra chip:

  • take a photo
  • contain the material or insect (this may be as simple as closing the doors on a shipping container or preventing access to a field).

Report it

Seen something unusual? Report it. Even if you’re not sure.

Report it without delay

Read the detail

  • Tomato potato psyllid in Western Australia  
  • The zebra chip bacteria and symptoms on plants 
  • Risk assessment: Potatoes from New Zealand 
  • Pest risk analysis for 'Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum' associated with apiaceous crops 
  • Plant Health Australia: zebra chip resources
  • Plant Health Australia: zebra chip in potato

General enquiries

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Page last updated: 31 March 2025

We acknowledge the continuous connection of First Nations Traditional Owners and Custodians to the lands, seas and waters of Australia. We recognise their care for and cultivation of Country. We pay respect to Elders past and present, and recognise their knowledge and contribution to the productivity, innovation and sustainability of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries.

Artwork: Protecting our Country, Growing our Future
© Amy Allerton, contemporary Aboriginal Artist of the Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung and Gamilaroi nations.

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