As part of its mandate as Colombia’s National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO), the ICA has strengthened regional phytosanitary risk management related to the Potato Purple Top complex, a high-impact disease system affecting potatoes and other solanaceous crops.
This work was highlighted during the Regional Workshop “Potato Purple Top Complex and Other Solanaceae”, held at the International Potato Center. The event brought together representatives from the National Plant Protection Organizations of Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia, alongside research centers, universities, and a delegation from the Andean Community (CAN). The workshop served as a strategic platform for regional coordination, analysis, and management of this phytosanitary pathosystem.
Key actions presented by ICA
Through its technical divisions of Epidemiology and Phytosanitary Surveillance and Plant Health, under the Deputy Directorate of Plant Protection, ICA presented Colombia’s main actions for managing phytosanitary risk related to the Bactericera cockerelli – Purple Top – Zebra Chip complex. These actions included:
- Early detection of the vector insect in 2021
- Subsequent identification of Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum and Candidatus Phytoplasma spp. in multiple host plants monitored in the Nariño region
- Implementation of phytosanitary measures aimed at mitigating risks associated with this complex
Strengthening diagnostics, technology, and governance
ICA emphasized the strengthening of institutional diagnostic capacity, the implementation of standardized monitoring protocols, and the development of risk distribution models for the insect vector under climate change scenarios. These models use artificial intelligence tools such as MaxEnt and Random Forest, supporting regulatory management and evidence-based decision-making to prevent and reduce economic impacts.
The agency also highlighted strong inter-institutional coordination involving national and local authorities, the productive sector, and academia. This collaboration is considered a cornerstone of integrated pathosystem management, alongside improved risk communication directed at producers, technicians, and policymakers.
Strategic regional recommendations
During collaborative working sessions, ICA contributed strategic recommendations aligned with international standards of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), including the need to:
- Strengthen technical cooperation among NPPOs in the region through phytosanitary governance schemes and regional coordination
- Consolidate and expand technology transfer programs related to the B. cockerelli – Purple Top – Zebra Chip complex
- Advance regulatory harmonization for seed production, certification, and movement to reduce phytosanitary risks and enable safe trade
- Develop early-detection tools using satellite imagery, UAVs (drones), and mobile devices to enhance phytosanitary surveillance
- Promote the production of high-quality seed in response to the limited availability of certified seed across CAN countries
- Broaden regional initiatives to include export-oriented production systems, incorporating international trade facilitation criteria
Understanding the pathosystem
A pathosystem refers to the association between a disease-transmitting organism (typically an insect vector), the pathogen itself, and the resulting disease, which together can cause severe damage to economically important crops such as potatoes.
