Control of tarsonemid mite on strawberry: clean planting material

Understand why it is so important to start with clean, healthy planting material when taking measures to control tarsonemid mite on strawberry.

This information was last updated in 2018.

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Start with clean planting material

Control should begin at the propagation stage and growers should obtain a source of clean certified planting material from a reputable source.

Candidate nuclear stock/pre basic mother plants are initially grown in a quarantine house to allow testing and inspection for freedom from quarantine pests. This process that includes weekly microscopic inspection by trained staff to check the plant material is free from mites (see Figure 1).

Nuclear stock mother plants inspected by trained staff under microscope

NIAB

Figure 1. Nuclear stock mother plants are inspected by trained staff under the microscope for the presence of tarsonemid mite.

Progeny from these plants move to the designated nuclear stock/pre basic grade production house only if no mites are detected following destructive analysis of the mother plant – a routine process prior to moving any plants.

Plants in pre basic propagation houses are grown in strict isolation from fruiting crops and older stock plants to prevent new infestations. The plants are grown under strict conditions of hygiene according to the Fruit Propagation Certification Scheme rules and are inspected regularly for the presence of tarsonemid mite.

Staff working in a propagation business are trained about the dangers of pest and disease to help to minimise risks of cross infection. Prior to dispatch all batches of plants produced from the process are split and a proportion sent for destructive sampling to verify freedom from tarsonemid mite and other pests defined within the scheme.

Growers purchasing plant material should check that regular crop inspections for tarsonemid mite have been made and enquire about any control measures used.