Clavibacter sepedonicus, causing potato ring rot, (https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/CORBSE) is a major bacterial pathogen of potato in many potato-growing areas. This forms biofilms on different types of surfaces. Biofilm formation enhances the survival of bacterium in the environment for a long time. The main host plant is Solanum tuberosum (potato); however there is a number of experimental host plants in accordance with the EPPO Global Database (https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/CORBSE/hosts).
C. sepedonicus is designated as the regulated quarantine pest in the EU region. The main consequence of tuber infection of potatoes is downgrading seed potatoes through seed certification, thereby reducing the cost of seed potatoes and profits of seed potato growers. Since European plant health laboratories perform the laboratory control of this regulated quarantine pest through laboratory testing using modern molecular (such as conventional PCR tests, real time PCR tests) and their National Plant Protection Organizations (NPPOs) take effective phytosanitary measures to avoid the pest distribution and infestation of lots of seed potatoes, the status of the pest is designated as present, restricted distribution or present, few occurrences in accordance with the EPPO Global Database (https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/CORBSE/distribution). Based on knowledge of biological traits of this potato pathogen, Safe Haven Standards in the framework of the Red Tractor Food Assurance Scheme (https://redtractorassurance.org.uk/standard-categories/safe-haven-potatoes/) were written to strengthen crop health and keep the UK territory away from the presence of many potato pathogens in potato crop. This makes the difference and some regions in the UK are recognized as the High Grade Regions («high quality potato production areas») in accordance with Commission Decision 2004/3/EC (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32004D0003).
