Veg pest new to Aust found on WA crops

A destructive plant pest has been found for the first time in Australia in Perth, and could pose a significant threat to vegetable production.

The Department of Agriculture and Food WA has confirmed the presence of the tomato potato psyllid at six properties in the Perth area.

The psyllid attacks a range of plants including potato, sweet potato, tomato, eggplant, capsicum, chilli and tamarillo, and is a significant production pest in the US, Central America and New Zealand.

The psyllid's not only carry viruses, but also bacterium that can lead to the zebra chip disease in potatoes, which causes dark rings on the vegetable.

Acting chief plant protection officer Sonya Broughton said infected properties had been quarantined to restrict the movement of vegetable and plant materials.

Dr Broughton said adult psyllids resembled small winged aphids and were about 3mm long.

"The body is brownish and has white or yellowish markings on the thorax and a broad white band on the abdomen. Its wings are transparent and held vertically over the body," she said.

"Symptoms of damage on plants can include stunting, yellowing and purpling of leaves, distorted leaf growth and stem death."

DAFWA requests commercial vegetable producers and backyard growers to check for signs of the psyllid and report any unusual detections through their pest guide smartphone app.

VegetablesWA CEO John Shannon said WA's horticulture industry was critically important to the state's economy and they were working to prevent further crop damage.

"We have access to international expertise which will help us to best respond to this new pest and we will work closely with the department to share this expertise with growers," Mr Shannon said.