CONTAMINATION OF AUTOMOBILES BY SYNCHYTRIUM-ENDOBIOTICUM IN RELATION TO HOME GARDENS IN NEWFOUNDLAND

Potato wart disease, caused by Synchytrium endobioticum, is primarily a soil-borne disease which is present in soils in most communities in Newfoundland. One mode of pathogen dissemination is through the contam ination of vehicles with infested soil. It is assumed that vehicles co ntaminated with inoculum are related to communities with high spore co unts. To test this hypothesis, the relation between vehicle contaminat ion and proximate infestation locus was studied. Sites were examined f or the presence and number of resting spores of the pathogen in garden soil, driveway, and vehicle, ANOVA was performed on the differences o f vehicle contamination between 'wart-positive' and 'wart-negative' ga rdens. A statistically significant correlation (P = 0.01) between vehi cle contamination and garden infestation was established. We conclude that vehicles which originate from highly infested communities present a high risk of harbouring S, endobioticum resting spores. Data compil ation on high risk communities is a necessary accompaniment to inspect ion measures at ferry-exit ports.