SOD confirmation at Monrovia Nursery in CA

[jimmyq]

To: BC Garden Retailers

Preliminary discussions with government officials on both sides of the border make it likely that the recent detection of Phytophthora ramorum, or Sudden Oak Death at Monrovia Nurseries, California, will have an impact on all sectors of the horticultural industry across Canada. This situation is highly variable, however, as developments continue to unfold daily.

A conference call, to include industry and government regulators, is scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday) and is expected to bring some initial clarity as to how this issue will affect the current spring shipping season. Industry members will be kept up-to-date on these details and all subsequent developments by the BCLNA through e-mail and fax newsletters.

Attached is an initial report from the American Association of Nurserymen (ANLA), outlining the implications, as they are currently known, to the horticultural industry south of the border. Much of the information contained in this report is particularly applicable in dealing with the media. Should you be contacted by the media, you are requested to not speculate on this issue. Much of the information published in this regard can be confusing, especially as the situation changes daily. Media calls should be forwarded to Jane Stock, Executive Director, BCLNA at 604-5764-7772, or Rita Weerdenburg, CNLA Industry Technical Analyst, at 1-888-446-3499, ext. 50.

Excellent information is also available from the website set up by the California Oak Mortality Task Force: www.suddenoakdeath.org.
"
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[jimmyq]

American Nursery Landscape Association

SOD Update

March 16, 2004

The issue of Phytophthora ramorum, also known as Sudden Oak Death, has taken a nasty turn in the last few days. The following is a summary of what ANLA knows at this point, as well as some analysis and observations.

P. ramorum identified:
Last week Monrovia Growers announced that it had confirmed an infestation of P. ramorum on six varieties of Camellias. Given Monrovia’s size and market scope, this outbreak of P. ramorum could have major implications for the interstate movement of plant material on a large scale.

In addition to Monrovia, there are at least twelve more growing operations in CA that are currently being further analyzed for the potential presence of P. ramorum. The analysis process involves initial DNA tests (known as “PCR”) and subsequent culturing tests to prove presence of the P. ramorum fungus.

The fact that the Monrovia infestation is taking place in Southern CA, a region thought to be less susceptible to such an outbreak due to a warmer and drier climate, throws additional attention to the possibility that this fungal pathogen could represent a more wide spread concern than most scientists had assumed.

This discovery has led to a great deal of additional activity both within CA and states in which other nursery businesses have been receiving plant material from CA, particularly Monrovia. The impacts are likely to spread, assuming the pathogen is confirmed in other nurseries in California, and perhaps other states.


Other state activity:
On Friday 12 March, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services declared an immediate quarantine on all plant material coming from CA. On 15 March, the Georgia Department of Agriculture announced an identical quarantine on all plant material shipped from CA. This sweeping quarantine is intended to pressure the California Department of Agriculture to reveal the names of the other nurseries undergoing further testing. Both departments indicate that upon release of the names of those other businesses they will more narrowly focus their quarantines on the varieties, identified as P. ramorum host plants, shipped from those nurseries. Still other states, such as Washington, are asking businesses to put a hold on potentially suspect plant material while a more thorough response plan is formulated in cooperation with USDA’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service.

 

[jimmyq]

There are reports of additional states considering similar quarantines. ANLA is in close communication with leaders of the National Plant Board (NPB), an organization that represents the plant regulatory officials of the 50 states and Puerto Rico. The sense of the NPB Board of Directors is to attempt to be vigilant and put holds on suspect plant material for a period of roughly seven to 10 days while USDA can flesh out its response plans. USDA leadership is essential, because under federal law, states are legally precluded from exceeding the measures taken by the federal government on a federal quarantine pest or pathogen like P. ramorum. If your state regulators are considering such activity, or have already taken action, please contact us here at ANLA as soon as possible.


Analysis and Observations:
Obviously, this is a fast moving issue with significant economic implications for our industry, particularly with the spring season just unfolding in many major markets. The national news media can find lots to talk about in an issue such as this. To the uninitiated, this may appear to have all the sizzle of a Mad Cow epidemic. Here are some important factors that suggest that it is premature and highly speculative to assume that severe disruption of the movement of plant material to market is necessary, or would be effective. As one experienced regulatory official put it, “we need to be careful that in our zeal to eradicate a pathogen, we don’t eradicate an industry.”

• So far, the strain of P. ramorum established in North America is proving fatal to a very narrow range of tree species in a very narrow climate range.
• There are approximately forty plant species that have been identified as hosts or associated hosts out of literally thousands of varieties of plant material in the market. For most of these host plants, P. ramorum is not fatal and damage is typically limited to symptoms such as leaf spots or twig cankers. In other words, P. ramorum (at least the North American, or A2 strain) has not yet shown itself to be a severe threat in nursery production.
• Symptoms associated with P. ramorum on both trees susceptible to SOD and carrier host plants closely resemble symptoms associated with other pathogens making accurate detection difficult and creating a significant likelihood of misdiagnosis. As stated previously, regulators and growers lack rapid, efficient and widely available detection and diagnostic techniques.
• Current scientific understanding of P. ramorum suggests that transmission among host plants requires both proximity and abundant moisture.
• The current extent of spread of the pathogen in North America is not yet well understood. On one hand, it is possible that the pathogen is limited to California and an area in extreme southern Oregon, where eradication efforts are in progress. On the other hand, it is possible that the pathogen is actually widespread in the nursery trade, and may be established in the environment in other parts of the country.
• Rather little is known about the potential for the pathogen to cause harm. Virtually all scientists agree that P. ramorum will NOT cause harm on the scale of Chestnut blight or Dutch elm disease. Still, predictive modeling for such a disease is not a well-honed science.

In summary, this is a particularly challenging quarantine scenario, for several reasons. First, the P. ramorum A2 strain is established in the environment. We do not have well-developed, widely available and efficient detection and diagnostic techniques. Nor are there proven regulatory treatments or other certification tools to ensure successful suppression or eradication as there are, for example, in the case of insect pests like Japanese beetle or gypsy moth.

As in all quarantine response activities, there are huge information gaps, and tremendous pressure for some type of action. It is important that success is measured not by the amount of activity, but by the ability for federal and state regulators, and industry, to make the most appropriate decisions while the tremendous information vacuum is filled as quickly as possible

 

[jimmyq]

In response, ANLA is working on several fronts. Among them:

- Urging swift and comprehensive regulatory tracking (“trace-forwards and trace backs”) to get a better handle on whether and where the pathogen has spread;
- Urging adequate funding for a comprehensive general detection survey;
- Pursuing regulatory coordination among the federal government and states, with strong federal leadership and commitment;
- Pursuing research funding through all available sources in an effort to better understand the threat P. ramorum poses, and how to prevent or manage the disease in the nursery and landscape settings;
- Urging strengthening of quarantine measures for incoming foreign plant material, since the A1 or European strain of P. ramorum appears to behave very differently and could be a serious nursery pathogen.

Other Agendas:
Green industry businesses should bear in mind potential hidden or conflicting agendas as this situation evolves and hits the media. Two examples:

- Some groups’ ultimate goal is to eliminate long-distance movement of nursery stock, and instead rely solely on local sources and native plants. They will use P. ramorum as justification that the risks of moving nursery stock interstate are too great.
- Some even within the industry or the regulatory community could see this as an opportunity to pursue trade restrictions or retaliatory actions for past perceived wrongs.

ANLA’s goal is to preserve a viable national marketplace for nursery and greenhouse plants, and to keep the process focused on best available science, rather than emotion.

Where We Go from Here:
Federal and state plant health officials are hard at work tracing suspect plant material through the supply chain. Please cooperate fully in providing access to plants and paperwork as investigations proceed.

For more technical information on P. ramorum, one of the most comprehensive websites is the one set up by the California Oak Mortality Task Force. Visit www.suddenoakdeath.org.

Most importantly, be aware that this is a rapidly developing situation, and that the lay of the land may look quite different in one week than it does today. Watch for updates and advisories from ANLA as the situation evolves.

 

[jimmyq]

Quoted from an email I received today, FYI for those who are interested.

 

[jimmyq]

Original email from a few days ago, may not post right but here goes;

"March 12, 2004

STOP SALES of CAMELLIAS IMMEDIATELY



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Any retailer purchasing camellias through a supplier or directly from

MONROVIA NURSERIES in California is directed to

Quarantine Camellias immediately.

This is a directive from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

Sudden Oak Death (SOD) (Phytophthera ramorum)

has been found in Monrovia’s California Nursery.

If you have received Camellias from Monrovia in California in the last six months:

you should isolate your camellias by keeping them at least 10 meters from all other nursery stock.
keep them watered and healthy – they may be perfectly fine.
CFIA will call to test your plants; if you have not been contacted by Wed March 17th, call Ken Wong, CFIA at the number below.
If you purchased Camellias from a supplier :

isolate your camellias by at keeping them at least 10 meters from all other nursery stock.
contact your nursery supplier to determine the origin of the stock.
if they are not from Monrovia in California, you can resume sales.
if they are from Monrovia in California, wait for CFIA to contact you."

 

[Reed]

Very sad but accurately predicted.

Downplayed too, in spite of the implications. Dictated responses to media important, no allowance for "speculation".

One element of the announcement I found rather spooky is the statement that it's not generally fatal to a variety of sought-after economic household plants. Perhaps not. But to the tree outside the house or off the porch it most certainly is.

Politics (regulation or not) dictated by economics. That's religion nowdays.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Uhhhh...

Is this the right forum for this? Or, am I missing something here?

Carl! This is yur job!

 

[ORclimber]

MB, When it escapes into the landscape there will be removals galore. If this stuff comes to your hometown on a truck, You'll be in even higher demand.

 

[jimmyq]

MB - sorry if its not in the best forum, I was thinking this location would get the most professional traffic, please feel free to relocate the thread if you can figure where its best... did we get you that moderators job yet? the poll seemed to be heading that way.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Nah, I was just wondering if I was not getting the connection, or whatnot. I really don't care. I read it all.

 

[Lumberjack]

Re: Uhhhh...

Originally posted by MasterBlaster
Carl! This is yur job!

Ack! I am fallin slack.


But where would this go? I guess I aint too focused now, I can't make myself read this thread.

Possibly anouncements? Or is it comercial related because it effects jobs in Canada and England?

 

[ORclimber]

Technically it probably belongs in Nursery. But, it's only a state away from here, and a bit spooky. Maybe SOD impacts the CA tree guys that frequent this site.

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

Don't feel slighted OrClimber, SOD's in your state too.

 

[ORclimber]

Well....it prefers a wet cool environment so OR is probably more suitable than CA. Guess it was only a matter of time.

 

[Guy Meilleur]

Re: Uhhhh...

Originally posted by MasterBlaster
Is this the right forum for this? Or, am I missing something here

Commercial Tree Care is taking care of trees for money, right? If there are epidemics coming our way we need to know, so we can take care of trees instead of just :Eye: them die and cutting them down. That's what this forum's title means to me.

Trees can be strengthened against SOD by soil inoculation with Trichoderma and other natural Phytophthora competitors. Biopesticides work and are the first line of defense against disease. Healthy Soil, Healthy Plants.:angel:

 

[Reed]

I believe S.O.D. demands some more focus and discussion. Maybe it's just me but epidemics become epidemics for more reasons than just the diseases themselves.

Twenty years ago here refusal to acknowledge oak wilt as oak wilt (due to academia insisting it wasn't) led to where we are today. Appropriate intervention was delayed - not to say SOD hasn't commanded attention but more people educating themselves it about certainly won't hurt preparations when needed and in SOD's case, will certainly help it from spreading unecessarily by ignorance on basic precautions.

It may also become important to educate ourselves on the frequency and destructive results of un-treatable epidemics and study ways to understand why they happen and what it means to a contributing picture on the "overall" status of things.

Or maybe that's just me, dunno.