USDA-APHIS updates PR website

USDA APHIS has updated their P. ramorum website. Included on the new site are updates to regulatory requirements (see Federal Order DA-2014-02), a new inspection and sampling protocol, a revised water sampling protocol for nurseries, and a new confirmed nursery protocol.

Wet springs may be affecting ponderosa pine health | WSU News Washington State University

Wet springs may be affecting ponderosa pine health | WSU News Washington State University

New webinar

A new webinar from the irrigation pathogens group on "Substrate management practices vital for pathogen risk mitigation" will be posted soon on their website. Check out the website below for this and other webinars:

http://www.irrigation-pathogens.ppws.vt.edu/webinar/index.php

Integrated management of zoosporic pathogens and irrigation water quality for a sustainable green industry is sponsored through the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) of USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Award #2010-51181-21140.

2014 stream monitoring

The 2014 National P. ramorum Early Detection Survey of Forests is underway with an estimated 73 streams to be assayed in 12 states nationwide, similar to 2013 levels.

The survey focuses on high-risk waterways near infested forests in CA and OR and previously positive waterways in AL, FL, GA, MS, NC, TX, and WA as well as waterways outside nurseries that may have received infected ornamental plants in these states, plus NY and PA.

Steve Oak, the National P. ramorum Early Detection Survey of Forests, retired in January. Due to uncertainties in budget and current vacancies in leadership positions, a new national coordinator has not been determined. However, at the National Forest Health Monitoring Meeting held in March 2014, there was strong support from state, federal, and university representatives to continue the SOD surveys and for Forest Health Protection leadership to consider options for identifying a survey program leader.

From the April COMTF newsletter.

New publication on steam treatment for Phytophthora eradication

Schweigkofler, W.; Kosta, K.; Huffman, V.; Sharma, S.; Suslow, K.; and Ghosh, S. 2014. Steaming Inactivates Phytophthora ramorum, Causal Agent of Sudden Oak Death and ramorum Blight, from Infested Nursery Soils in California. Plant Health Progress. 15(1): 43 – 47.

Abstract: Nursery trade plays a major role in the long-distance spread of Phytophthora ramorum, the causal agent of Sudden Oak Death (SOD) and ramorum blight of ornamental plants. Under federal regulations, nurseries found positive for P. ramorum must destroy infected plants and treat infested soils. The use of steam is an effective method to thermally inactivate P. ramorum from nursery soils as demonstrated at the National Ornamental Research Site at Dominican University (NORS-DUC) and one commercial nursery in the Central Valley of California. Heating up the top soil layer (0-30 cm) to 50°C for 120 minutes resulted in complete thermal inactivation of P. ramorum. Consequently, the commercial nursery was released from federal quarantine. Steaming can be a fast, reliable, and sustainable option for treating nursery soils.

Contained, but not eradicated

The war against sudden oak death in southwest Oregon forests wages on, but nursery diligence still makes a difference.

Read the article by Ebba Peterson in the March Digger Magazine:
http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.oan.org/resource/resmgr/files/Digger201403OSU.pdf

USDA Blog Post: Help USDA Stop Invaders that Could Devastate U.S. Crops and Forests

USDA Blog Post: Help USDA Stop Invaders that Could Devastate U.S. Crops and Forests