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Department of Agriculture

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  3. Pests, diseases and weeds
  4. Plant pests and diseases
  5. Zebra chip

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Zebra chip

PLANT PEST

Pest

Zebra chip

Exotic to Australia, insect vector under management in WA

Features: A bacterial disease, spread by the tiny tomato-potato psyllid, that causes stunted or abnormal growth in vegetable crops, including striping in potatoes

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

The tiny tomato-potato psyllid is the insect needed to spread the bacterial infection causing Zebra chip. The 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)

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), which carries the disease from plant to plant.

Zebra chip damages plants and produce 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.

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 the insect 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 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.

Tomato-potato psyllid is only a few millimetres long. © State of Western Australia (Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, WA)
 
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.

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 
  • Draft risk analysis for 'Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum' associated with apiaceous crops 
  • Plant Health Australia: zebra chip resources 

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Last updated: 19 December 2022

© Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.