Potato growers in NZ have a problem. Something is attacking their potatoes and leaving green and black rings inside the potatoes. When the chips maker cuts the potatoes to make chips, the chips just do not look right and they have a bit of a bitter taste too.
This same things is attacking tomatoes and capsicums too because they are all family.
First scientists thought that it is caused by psyllids - tiny insects that suck the juice in leaves. But now they know it is actually bacteria that live inside the psyllids which are injected into the plant when the insect feeds.
Now scientists are trying all sorts of things to get rid of the psyllids so that our potatoes can be all good to eat again. I have been catching psyllids too which is not easy as they are very, very tiny and I need to wear special magnifiers like glasses on my head to see them on the leaves - and then it still is difficult.
