USDA Phytophthora ramorum Educate to Detect (PRED) Program
Outreach and screening for homeowner plant samples with symptoms of Phytophthora ramorum, cause of Sudden Oak Death and other diseases
Issue: In spring 2004, potentially infected ornamental plants were shipped throughout much of the United States The plants came from a few nurseries that inadvertently shipped containerized rhododendron, camellia and other plants that may be infected with Phytophthora ramorum, cause of Sudden Oak Death and other diseases. Since P. ramorum is a quarantine pathogen, inspections were conducted and infected plants recovered and destroyed at over 160 sites in 21 states. However, because many plants were sold prior to inspections, this project aims to reach out to homeowners so they report suspicious plants in their home landscapes.
Background on Sudden Oak Death: Sudden Oak Death is a forest disease caused by the quarantine plant pathogen Phytophthora ramorum. This pathogen has caused widespread mortality of tanoak and several oak species (coast live oak, California black oak, and others) in California's central and northern coastal counties and in southwest Oregon. It also infects the leaves and twigs of numerous other plants species. While many of these "foliar hosts," such as camellias and rhododendrons usually do not die from the disease, they do play a key role in the spread of P. ramorum, acting as breeding ground for innoculum, which may then be spread through wind-driven rain, water, or human activity. For more information see www.suddenoakdeath.org.
Project Objective: Early detection of ornamental plants infected with Phytophthora ramorum
Program overview and status:
- Briefing of state cooperators and others on purpose, need and desired outcomes. (COMPLETED via conference call July 26, 2004 and August 10, 2004).
- National training in detection and screening of potentially infected plants. ( A training session is scheduled via teleconference on October 26. Also a website of resources is posted at www.ncipmc.org/alerts/suddenoakdeath.)
- States develop program asking the public to notify Master Gardeners and others if they have symptomatic, potentially infected plants on their property. -- (Pending in most states)
- Master Gardeners or others submit samples to land-grant university plant disease clinics labs or state agriculture departments to determine if P. ramorum is present. (Pending in most states)
- If positive plants are identified, quarantine procedures will be implemented by state and federal regulatory officials. (Pending, if needed)
More details on October 26, 2004 National P. ramorum training
The training program for Master Gardeners and other horticultural crop support staff, created by a national panel of experts, will consist of web-based materials, fact sheets and a national teleconference scheduled for October 26th, 2004 at 3 pm ET. A panel of experts will be available at the end of the presentation to answer questions.
Individual states have the option of holding state-specific break out sessions immediately after the national session. The USDA CSREES is working with State departments of agriculture and the land-grant universities to develop individual, state-specific plans for public education, detection and handling of homeowner landscape plants that might be infected by P. ramorum. State and land-grant university plant disease clinics are gearing up to support the effort.
Cooperators: USDA-Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES), USDA-Forest Service and USDA-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN), USDA Regional Integrated Pest Management Centers, Extension Service Master Gardener programs, Pesticide Safety Education Program, state forestry departments, state departments of agriculture, state universities and others.
Funded by the USDA-Forest Service.
For more information contact Susan Ratcliffe, North Central IPM Facilitator, North Central IPM Center, sratclif@uiuc.edu; or Carla Thomas, Deputy Director, Western Plant Diagnostic Network, cthomas@ucdavis.edu.
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This page developed and managed by the North Central Integrated Pest Management Center. Integrated Pest Management Centers are sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture, Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service.