Plant disease threatens traditions of California tribes

From 2009:
Mary Larson Bishop gazes at the folds and peaks of the Santa Lucia Range with longing. "I used to go deep into the woods looking for herbs," says the Salinan tribal elder, who is known for her knowledge of medicinal plants such as yerba santa, traditionally used to heal skin inflammation. Now, she no longer roams the Central California coastal hills. "I'm afraid of bringing anything out of the woods that might spread to other trees," says Bishop. "I don't want to track that crud out of the hills."

The "crud" is Phytophthora ramorum, a minuscule waterborne mold that weakens and kills many species of native trees and plants. The pathogen, which causes both Sudden Oak Death and Ramorum blight, was first discovered in the mid-1990s. Since then, it has spread to 14 California counties along the Pacific Coast, and even to Washington and Oregon. It travels by clinging to boots, hands, pant legs and tires.

http://www.hcn.org/issues/41.12/cultural-blight

Deadly P lateralis tree disease found at Loch Lomond

A deadly tree disease never seen in Britain before has been detected on the shores of Loch Lomond.

P. lateralis is a close relative of P. ramorum and is a root pathogen on Port Orford Cedar.

Read the rest of the article here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-11879891

OAN makes case to Oregon congressional delegation for action during lame duck session

OAN supports funding continued efforts to contain and control Phytophthora ramorum, the pathogen that causes sudden oak death. Additionally, our delegation must pressure USDA not to implement its damaging and discriminatory prenofitication rule, requiring all nurseries to notify receiving states of host material shipped from Oregon.

http://oangovernmentrelations.blogspot.com/2010/12/oan-makes-case-to-oregon-congressional.html

Phytophthora ramorum's threat to the East Coast

Phytophthora ramorum's threat to the East Coast was discussed at the Address P. ramorum Initiative breakout session held at Brandeis University, October 6, 2010, as part of the sixth meeting of the Continental Dialogue of Non-native Insects and Diseases. A poster and handout summarized what is known: The Sudden Oak Death pathogen has been detected in eight rivers in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and North Carolina. These contaminated waterways are near P. ramorum-positive nurseries. Several of the streams are in areas identified by the USDA Forest Service as "high risk" for infestation due to the presence of susceptible vegetation and suitable climate. The group discussed preliminary plans for 2011, which may include a meeting for interested parties to learn more about the Forest Service "Sudden Oak Death Framework" and recommendations to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service from interagency work groups on current P. ramorum regulations. The Address P. ramorum Initiative's goal is to prevent the spread of P. ramorum and work in a collaborative, proactive, cooperative manner. For more information, contact the Initiative co-leads: Ken Rauscher, Jerry Lee, or Susan Frankel.

Buy It Where You Burn It campaign covers OR, WA & ID

Moving firewood also moves invasive species, including P. ramorum

Buying local firewood protects Oregon forestry and ag
– Imported firewood is a major pathway for invasive species
By Oregon Department of Agriculture

Buy local has a whole new meaning when it comes to protecting Oregon from invasive species this fall and winter. Consumers are urged not to purchase firewood from out-of-state and all the insects and diseases it might carry. Instead, buying local firewood can help keep invasive species from gaining a foothold in the Oregon environment.

“Firewood is a major pathway for moving invasive species, and that’s not a good thing,” says Dan Hilburn, administrator of the Oregon Department of Agriculture’s Plant Division and member of the Oregon Invasive Species Council (OISC). “The take home message to Oregonians is to buy their firewood locally and burn it locally.”

Whether it is used at a campground or at home, people are transporting firewood great distances these days, taking with them any bugs or diseases that might not be native to that area.

http://naturalresourcereport.com/2010/10/buy-it-where-you-burn-it-campaign-covers-or-wa-id/

New nursery research projects at NORS-DUC

Pending California Department of Pesticide Regulation approval, the following five projects will soon be underway at the National Ornamentals Research Site at Dominican University of California (NORS-DUC). All projects have been funded through the fiscal year federal Farm Bill. For more information on the projects or the NORS-DUC program, contact Sibdas Ghosh at sibdas.ghosh@dominican.edu.

Bostock, R.M. and Roubtsova, T. Episodic abiotic stress and ramorum blight in nursery ornamentals: impacts on symptom expression and chemical management of Phytophthora ramorum in Rhododendron.

Chastagner, G. and Elliott, M. The risk of asymptomatic Phytophthora ramorum infection on fungicide treated rhododendrons.

Jeffers, S.; Meadows, I.; Hwang, J.-S. Studies on Soil Mitigation of Phytophthora ramorum.

Tjosvold, S.; Chastagner, G.; and Elliott, M. Effect of fungicides and biocontrol agents on inoculum production and persistence of Phytophthora ramorum on nursery hosts.

Widmer, T. and Shishkoff, N. Use of Trichoderma spp. to remediate Phytophthora ramorum-infested soil.

Helping to map the SOD outbreak in California

Sudden oak death: Plotting trail, testing leaves


A map plotting the path of destruction that the tree-strangling pathogen known as sudden oak death is taking through the Bay Area shows new infestations in and around neighborhoods throughout the region.

The effort to track the wily killer's movements is the result of a major effort to involve citizens in the battle against the mysterious pathogen, which has killed tens of thousands of oak trees from Big Sur to southern Oregon.



Read more: San Francisco Chronicle, Oct. 4 2010