 | | Cooperative Agriculture Pest
Survey program P. Ramorum identification aid. (Click on the
image for a larger view.) |
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Salem, OR — On June 23, the Oregon
Department of Agriculture adopted the nation's most rigorous plant
inspection program in an effort to stop the spread of Phytophthora
ramorum, the pathogen that causes Ramorum canker and blight. The disease which causes die off and cankers on many trees and ornamentals
is also referred to as sudden oak death because it was first identified
nearly two years ago in southern California coastal forests. In March, agriculture inspectors discovered the pathogen at a large nursery
in southern California, sparking a nationwide search for diseased plants
that had already been shipped throughout the country. California nurseries
have already lost an estimated $25 million to $30 million due to state
and federal quarantines. ?We want the rest of the U.S. and export markets to understand that our
nursery industry is not infested with sudden oak death and that any new
introduction of the disease will be detected early and quickly eradicated,?
said Katy Coba, director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture in a
report by the Statesman Journal. The tough inspection program was requested by the Oregon Association
of Nurseries (OAN) in order to avoide a statewide quarantine. (See: "State
nursery industry requests that ODA institute P. ramorum inspection
and surveillance program," OAN, June 23, 2004. OAN represents
1,600 wholesale growers, retailers, landscapers and suppliers. As of June 15, the U.S. Department of Agriculture had traced the pathogen
from the initial infection at a California nursery to 139 nurseries and
garden centers in 18 states. In related news, researchers recently succeeded in deciphering the pathogen's
genetic code. The researchers believe the P. Ramorum gene map will
allow them to eventually detect, track and treat the disease. (See, "Genome
of Sudden Oak Death bug cracked," New Scientist, June 11, 2004.) Related headlines:"P.
Ramorum: Expansion of Associated Articles," USDA APHIS, June
25, 2004. The list of regulated articles now includes Clintonia andrewsiana
(Andrew?s clintonia bead lily), Dryopteris arguta (California wood fern),
Smilacina racemosa (false Solomon?s seal), and Taxus brevifolia (Pacific
yew). APHIS
List of Hosts and Plants Associated with P. ramorum, as revised
June 23, 2004 to include seven Camelia species and 18 Camelia hybrids.
USDA
P. Ramorum Update, June 17, 2004 (PDF, 16k) "[California]
Nursery sales losses pegged at $30 million," North County Times,
June 17, 2004. "Sudden
Oak Death pathogen discovered at large southern California nursery;
nationwide search is on for plants already shipped to other states,"
LM Week in Review, March 19, 2004. "Frequently
asked questions about P. Ramorum," LM Week in Review,
March 19, 2004.
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