Duration: 04/01/2004 to 03/30/2005

Administrative Advisor(s):

NIFA Reps:

Non-Technical Summary

Statement of Issues and Justification

Background on the disease: Phytophthora ramorum is the cause of sudden oak death on certain members of the Fagaceae and ramorum blight of many nursery crops. The pathogen was first identified in 1993 in Germany and the Netherlands on rhododendron and viburnum. It is now causing widespread disease in nurseries within nine European countries. In the UK alone, it has been detected in more than 300 nurseries, private gardens, and parklands; some native forest tree species have also been found infected with the pathogen. In N. America, P. ramorum was first isolated from dying trees in California in 2000. It now causes disease in native woodlands of 12 coastal counties in California, and one county in southwest Oregon. P. ramorum was detected in a few ornamental nurseries and garden centers in California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia in 2003. In March, 2004, several southern California nurseries were found infested with the pathogen, resulting in crop destruction amounting to several million dollars. Hundreds of thousands of plants potentially infected with the pathogen were shipped to 39 states in the continental U.S., and several states imposed quarantines to prevent further shipments of nursery stock from California. In addition to severe economic losses to the nursery industry due to crop losses and quarantines, the shipment of contaminated plants throughout the U.S. could transmit disease to gardens, parks, and native vegetation. The range of hosts for this pathogen is very broad, including 29 species in 12 plant families, with another 30 species pending confirmation. Hundreds more plant species, including trees and woody shrubs, are potentially susceptible. Although the climatological requirements and ecological constraints of this pathogen are not known, eastern red oak forests are at risk because they contain numerous susceptible hosts including Quercus falcata, Quercus rubra, Kalmia latifolia, and Rhododendron.

Importance of the U.S. nursery industry: The U.S. is the world?s largest producer and market for nursery and greenhouse crops, and the nursery and greenhouse industry is the fastest growing segment of U.S. agriculture (USDA Economic Research Service). In terms of economic output, nursery and greenhouse crops represent the third most important sector in U.S. crop agriculture. Nursery and greenhouse crops are in the top five commodities in 27 states, and the top ten commodities in 42 states. Seven states account for almost two-thirds of all nursery crop production: California (24%), Texas (11%), Florida (9%), North Carolina (9%), Oregon (7%), Ohio (4%) and Maryland (3%).

Types of Activities

The Research Activity will bring together participants from a multi-state or national level to meet annually (2 years) to exchange information and coordinate research and extension activities concerning the management of P. ramorum in nurseries. If possible, meetings will be held in conjunction with a field trip to visit infested nurseries, symptomatic nursery plants, or on-going experiments on nursery plants. It is anticipated that this Activity will result in a longer term Multistate Research Project with very specific objectives and agreed-upon collaborative responsibilities.

Objectives

1. To provide a multi-state forum for the exchange of information among researchers and extension personnel concerned with P. ramorum in nurseries and the potential transmission of P. ramorum from nurseries to forests
   
2. To develop a means for coordinating the research and extension activities on P. ramorum in nurseries
   
3. To convene participants interested in developing a longer-term multi-state research project for the management of P. ramorum in nurseries
   

Expected Outputs, Outcomes and/or Impacts

Exchange of information on pathogen biology, ecology, and epidemiology which will lead to more effective strategies for disease management

Coordination of research that will result in more rapid progress in managing the disease

Coordination of extension development of information and programs for the nursery industry and public to facilitate nationwide rapid progress in managing the disease

Projected Participation

View Appendix E: Participation

Literature Cited

Attachments

Land Grant Participating States/Institutions

CA, GA, MN, MS, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TX, VA, WA, WI

Non Land Grant Participating States/Institutions

ARS- Foreign Diisease-Weed Science Research, CA Nursery Industry representative, Horticultural Crops Research Laboratory, Corvallis, OR 97330, Oregon Department of Agriculture - Plant Division, Salem, OR, USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region, USDA-ARS Foreign Disease - Weed Science Research Unit, USDA-ARS Horticultural Crops Research Laboratory, Corvallis, OR