This follows erroneous reports that appeared in The Standard, The Star and The People newspapers recently in regard to the presence of bacterial wilt disease in roses.

Bacterial wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum) is a disease common in plants of the solaneceae family like potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, chilies and solanaceous weeds. This disease is classified into five races based on different host ranges and biochemical reactions. Race 1 is known to affect solanaceae family, Race 2 is known to affect banana while Race 3 is known to affect potato. Race 1 has not been known to attack roses until recently reported in one of Kenya’s trading partner’s glasshouses growing roses towards the end of last year. The country immediately put in place phytosanitary measures as per the International Plant Protection Convention’s provisions.

Kenya, being one of its major trading partners, sought to find out the status of the disease in our roses. In collaboration with the trading partner’s National Plant Protection Organisation, KEPHIS carried out surveillance for the disease in rose production facilities within the country (Kenya) and took plant and water samples for analysis for the pathogen. Samples tested in Kenya and the International laboratories were negative for Ralstonia solanacearum Race 1.

The Flower Industry has been working closely with KEPHIS to come up with strategies to ensure that the disease is not introduced into Kenya. Some of the strategies that have been initiated as precautionary measures are formation of a technical working group to guide in surveillance to further assure that the disease is not present in Kenya and review of our import requirements in regard to the disease. We also continue to advice the industry to embrace good sanitation protocols.

KEPHIS assures all that bacterial wilt in roses has not been reported in Kenya.

Source: Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service