Psyllid yellows and zebra chip is a bacterial disease of tomatoes, capsicums, tamarillos and potatoes. It is spread by the sap sucking psyllid insect pest.
Control of psyllid yellows is achieved through control of psyllid insects.
Avoid bringing infected plants into your garden. During winter remove all plants that could be host to infection. Inspect susceptible plants regularly for signs of infection or infestation with psyllids. Remove and dispose of any plants that show symptoms of infection.
Apply SUPER SPECTRUM or MALDISON INSECT CONTROL insecticide to non-crop plants. Maldison will not kill eggs so repeat treatments will be necessary to kill adults and nymphs and break the life cycles.
Use CARBARYL INSECT CONTROL or new ORGANIC INSECT CONTROL with Pyrethrum to crop plants, paying particular attention to the underside of leaves where adults and nymphs live. Follow product instructions for use on crops carefully.
Psyllid yellows causes stunting and yellowing of the growing shoots of affected plants. In potatoes it also causes zebra chip which is an effect on the potato tubors such that when cooked the potatoes have dark stripes in the interior flesh.
Psyllid yellows disease is caused by the bacterium Liberibacter solanacearum. The bacterium is spread from plant to plant by the psyllid sap sucking insect pest. The only way currently available of controlling the disease is to control the psyllid insects.
The scientific name of the tomato/potato psyllid is - Bactericera cockerelli
The name of the bacterium that the psyllids spread and causes disease in tomatoes, potatoes, capsicums and tamarillos is Liberibacter solanacearum