Phytophthora has been found on various plots in the northeast of the country, according to the consultancy firm Delphy. This also means that there are phytophthora spores in circulation.
Reports are coming from the areas of Hardenberg, Peest and Tynaarlo. In the last 2 cases the infection most likely comes from the tuber. "However, we cannot completely place some infections, because there are also infections for which the infection conditions do not actually exist yet," says Erwin Bakker, advisor at Delphy.
"In terms of time of day, it is quite normal for us to find phytophthora. Our advice is that close attention must be paid in the northeast of the country, because the spores can now spread quickly. Care must also be taken around the times of infection; especially now that crop is growing fast, it is important to be there on time. The protection has already partly disappeared due to the rapid foliage growth," he reports.
Crops are in good condition
It is striking that infections have already been found in the northeast of the Netherlands, as it is relatively drier there than elsewhere in the country. "There are areas where there is already plenty of irrigation. Yet this is really weather for phytophthora," says Bakker. "In general, the crop is in good shape, because in the northeast most plots are closed."