Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

The minutes from the business component of the meeting are in the link to the attached file.

The following accomplishments are related to our current objectives: 1. Encourage interaction of plant pathologists and entomologists in order to facilitate interdisciplinary approaches to managing pests of ornamental plants in nurseries, ornamental landscapes, and urban forests. 2. Develop environmentally sound IPM methods including cultural, biological, and selective chemical approaches for protecting nursery stock and landscape plants from damage by insects and diseases. 3. Coordinate and promote new and ongoing research and technology transfer projects dealing with insects and diseases affecting landscape plants of regional interest. 4. Develop multi-state IPM programs to help individual states deal with diseases and insect pests on the tremendous diversity of plant taxa produced in nurseries and planted in landscapes. 5. Facilitate regional coordination and technology transfer for management of exotic, invasive insect and pathogen pests that impact nurseries, landscapes, and urban forests. The April 2010 review sent from Dr. Arlen Leholm and Christina Hamilton suggested summarizing project accomplishments rather than submitting individual state reports. Individual reports can be provided upon request. This document will summarize some highlights while also providing some details. SHORT-TERM OUTCOMES Arborists, diagnosticians, foresters, and other stakeholders have been trained by NCERA-193 members in the diagnosis and management of new pests and diseases such as emerald ash borer and thousand cankers disease of walnut, two key problems of woody plants that continue to increase their geographical range. OUTPUTS Please see separate publications link for a complete list of publication outputs. The committee has published numerous manuscripts, extension publications, trade publications, etc, on a diverse range of arthropod pests and diseases of landscape plants. Some highlights are listed here: Bill Jacobi completed a firewood survey in major national parks in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming which clearly documented the risks of firewood movement. For example, more than half the firewood was brought in from other states, and more than half the wood contained insects including wood borers and bark beetles. Information has been presented to APHIS and is currently in review for publication in a journal. These facts will help NCERA-193 members work with regulatory agencies to address firewood movement. (Objectives 4 and 5) NCERA-193 members Herms and Smitley have published work related to emerald ash borer (see publications list) and Williamson is currently studying preventative and curative applications. (Objective 2) NCERA-193 member Hartman conducted and published work on the management of bacterial leaf scorch, and insect-vectored disease of shade trees, and shared the results at the recent NCERA-193 meeting. (Objective 3) ACTIVITIES Group activities: Unfortunately budget constraints somewhat limited attendance at the 2010 meeting. However the committee is optimistic that participation will increase in 2011 and 2012. Several new potential members were identified and 2010 chair Kennelly has worked with Administrative Adviser Dr. Tom Payne to begin the official process to add two individuals to the committee. Other NCERA-193 members will be contacting 5-6 others that we have identified as candidates that would be valuable additions to the group. It should be noted that the committee communicates throughout the year via email. For example, members notify NCERA-193 colleagues about new publications, or to share images of unusual pest or disease issues that they are facing to get input from the group. Selected extension activities by the group in 2009-2010 include: NCERA-193 members Jacobi and Walla served as key leaders in the Great Plains Diagnostic Network tree health workshop in July 2010 where presenters instructed regional diagnosticians, foresters, regulators, and others in identification of native and exotic insects and disease including emerald ash borer, thousand cankers disease of walnut, and Stigmina needlecast of spruce. (Objectives 1 and 4) NCERA-193 members have conducted numerous training programs within their states to reach stakeholders such as arborists, nurserymen, homeowners, and rural landowners. For example, in Kansas, Kennelly and Cloyd have participated in two first detector trainings for emerald ash borer and thousand cankers disease, facilitated by information from NCERA-193 colleague Cranshaw. (Objectives 1 and 4) Ongoing research: Chokecherry X disease: NCERA-193 member Walla is continuing work to identify and propagate clones of chokecherry with resistance to the X-disease phytoplasma. National Elm Trial: Partners are continuing to collect data on tree growth, vigor, quality, insect infestation, and diseases. Kentucky recently published a summary of insect infestation to date (see Potter et al in publication list). Colorado has also summarized their preliminary findings on leafminers, European elm scale, Eriosoma amercanum, and elm flea weevil. Next steps include consolidating data from multiple states and organizing it into a user-friendly format for nurserymen. Walnut Thousand Cankers: NCERA-193 member Cranshaw continues to be a national leader in the research of this newly described disease. The disease is caused by a fungus, Geosmithia morbida, that is vectored by the walnut twig beetle, Pityophthorus juglandis. Research includes beetle life history, host range determination, and disease epidemiology/ecology. Bacterial leaf scorch: NCERA-193 member G. Adams is analyzing data from initial bacterial leaf scorch surveys in 2008 and 2009 and is expanding the project to include survey data from Ohio in 2011. Final results will be summarized and published. New reports, unusual outbreaks, etc, documented by the group: Dothistroma needle blight This disease was reported for the first time in North Dakota in 2010 by Walla. Walla is using molecular techniques to characterize and is initiating a new regional survey to collect Dothistroma isolates for molecular techniques, as Dothistroma pini and Dothistroma septosporum cannot be distinguished using classical microscopic or cultural techniques. Mystery Mealybug on Turfgrass. Reported from San Antonio, TX, in Aug. 2010, this unidentified mealybug appears to be different than the Rhodesgrass mealybug because waxy residue occurs along leaves in turfgrass areas. Asian Woolly Hackberry Aphids. Shivaphis celti Das (Hemiptera: Aphididae), have been abundant on certain hackberry trees throughout the coastal area of Texas for a number of years. In 2010, trees were observed with sooty mold covered foliage and heavy aphid populations which resulted in partial defoliation. Nearby hackberry trees seemed unaffected. This appears to be an introduced species. A fact sheet is available on: http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/pi/enpp/ento/entcirc/ent392.pdf Bur oak blight-Iowa: Bur oak blight (BOB), caused by several species of fungi in the genus Tubakia, was increasingly common on bur oak in Iowa in 2010. Many bur oak samples are arriving at the Plant Disease and Insect clinic with clients wondering if the problem is oak wilt, oak decline or bur oak blight. In most of the cases the problem is bur oak blight, or BOB for short. This is a fungal disease of oaks that has been noted in Iowa and neighboring states since at least the early 2000s. Tom Harrington, Iowa State University professor of plant pathology, named the disease and indicates that it is caused by an undescribed species of Tubakia. What is known so far about BOB. Dr. Harrington has found at least three species of Tubakia on oak in Iowa: the Tubakia species associated with BOB; Tubakia dryina, which was previously shown to cause leaf spots and vein-browning of leaves of white and bur oak; and a common leaf-spot fungus on red oaks caused by Tubakia castinicolum. So far, rapid death of leaf veins and death of leaves has been found only in association with the unnamed Tubakia species. The Tubakia species can move into twigs and branches where no symptoms are found but the fungus may overwinter in the tree and invade the new growth the next spring. However, the primary overwinter survival of the Tubakia species causing BOB seems to be the diseased leaves that were killed the year before. Many of the killed leaves persist on the tree through the following summer, and spores from the leaves can infect the next year's crop of leaves. Interestingly, the newly produced leaves look healthy for the first couple of months of the season and do not show symptoms until late July or August. It has been observed in general that trees seriously affected one year tend to be severely affected the next year, and the disease tends to intensify year after year. Severely affected trees begin to show branch mortality, perhaps associated with insect borers attacking the weakened trees. Other trees have apparently died directly because of bur oak blight. How widespread is this disease? According to Tom Harrington, BOB appears to be restricted to a sub-region of the Upper Midwest including Iowa, Nebraska, northern Illinois, and Wisconsin. The disease evidently becomes severe only on a strain of bur oak, characterized by small size of the acorn nut relative to the cap, which is prevalent in this region. In other parts of the native range, bur oak tends to have relatively prominent size of the nut relative to the cap; this genetic strain of the host appears to be more resistant to BOB. How should infected oaks be managed? There are no firm management recommendations at this point. However, maintenance of tree vigor may prolong the life of affected trees. Trees may be watered during dry periods, and mulching with wood chips around to the drip-line may help. Dr. Harrington is experimenting with propiconazole injections, but the jury is still out regarding efficacy and phytotoxicity. Extreme stress conditions: The 2010 growing season was the toughest in at least 25 years for woody plants and turfgrass in Iowa. Extremely heavy and persistent rainfall, accompanied by widespread flooding and exceptionally high temperatures, created prolonged periods of soil waterlogging and low-oxygen root zone conditions. A wide range of woody plants developed a wide range of stress symptoms, especially during the month or so after major flooding occurred in early August. We were inundated with calls, images, and samples from landscape conifers (particularly spruce species) that had developed browning or yellowing on current-year growth, older branches, or a mixture thereof. Symptoms developed on deciduous urban trees (particularly maples), too: necrotic and wilted shoot tips, premature fall coloration, etc. Most of the affected trees were not in flooded zones or obvious low spots in the landscape. The last time we saw such severe stress from prolonged wet soils was 1993, when there was widespread flooding in the Upper Midwest. In addition to the waterlogged-soils issue, foliar diseases of conifers and deciduous trees were severe in 2010. Three consecutive years of much-above-normal rainfall during the growing season (2008-2010) resulted in outbreaks of such diseases as brown spot needle blight (in Scots pine Christmas tree plantations), Dothistroma needle blight, and Rhizosphaera needlecast and spruce needle drop (SNEED) on blue spruce that were more severe than had been observed in Iowa since the mid-1980s. Anthracnose diseases on deciduous trees were also exceptionally severe and widespread. The wet weather also appeared to worsen bur oak blight. Waterlogged soils and subsequent root decline were also noted from Kansas in 2010. Pine wilt: Pine wilt continues to be a leading problem in Kansas. NCERA-193 member Kennelly is serving as a leader in a multi-agency pine wilt initiative to use scouting and sanitation to prevent establishment of pine wilt in western Kansas, and to study alternative conifers for use in windbreaks, shelterbelts, and landscapes. Pennsylvania and Delaware observations: Scale insects were some of the common pests encountered this year, especially soft scalessuch as Ceroplastes ceriferus (Indian wax scale), Toumeyella liriodendri (Tuliptree scale), and Pulvinaria scales (Cottony Taxus/Camellia Scale, Cottony Maple Scale). The Pulvinaria scales were more abundant than past years and weather conditions may play a factor. We received a number armored scale samples in the diagnostic lab this summer and they included pine needle, Fiorina, elongate hemlock, cryptomeria, Putnum, white prunicola, white peach, juniper, oystershell and Japanese maple scales (Lopholeucaspis japonica). Japanese maple scale infestations are becoming more prevalent in our area and have been recorded from many hosts including hollies, dogwoods, roses, cherry, pear and maple trees among others. Euonymus scale populations were down from previous years with no infestations being reported. Other sucking insect pests such as whiteflies, azalea lace bugs, hawthorn lace bugs, psyllids, aphids and hemlock woolly adelgids were minor problems reported during the year. Spider mite problems were rampant due to the drought. While warm season mites such as two-spotted spider mite were often observed, cool season spider mites were not problematic this past spring; however, several fall outbreaks are just being noted at this time. Chewing insects had an epic year, probably due to the late winter blanket of snow and the lack of extreme temperatures at that time. Cankerworms and other caterpillars of hardwoods were everywhere. While it was good to see many Luna moths and hickory horned devil caterpillars again, the amount of fall webworm and mimosa webworm were not so welcome. Cutworms and armyworms appeared in annuals and perennials early and often. Tobacco budworm was widespread in Nicotiana and geranium. Hibiscus, Rose Slug, and Dogwood Sawfly were also noteworthy this year in both PA and DE. Locust leafminer outbreaks often dominated in forested areas. Bagworm populations were spotty in Delaware this year versus the past couple of years and severe damage was observed on trees where trees were planted close together, thus dispersal from hatching locations was reduced. Flea beetle populations are still causing problems for nurserymen on the eastern shore of Maryland and Virginia. Living beech borer was found in New Castle County. Cossonus spp., a curculionid, was found infesting stressed Austrian pines in Sussex County. Japanese beetle populations were common in Sussex County while the other two counties only had a few random locations with notable populations. In 2009, Sussex had greater than four inches of rain each month during June, August, and September; thus their elevated populations may reflect the amounts of moisture available during oviposition and early instar development. Overall however, the beetle populations were low for 2010 in Delaware and SE Pennsylvania. The rainfall for during the summer-fall 2009 in southeastern PA was very scarce. As previously mentioned, summer-fall rainfall this year is similarly spotty, perhaps indicating that JB populations may remain low in 2011. Select Invasive species Emerald ash borer was very evident on the West Side of Pennsylvania, and reports came from Juniata, Mifflin, Union and late in the season Cumberland County. The last report occurs at a major 4 points interchange (PA Turnpike and US 11/15) for commercial trucking just west of Harrisburg, PA. I (Casey) think EAB is now present throughout PA and that it is only a matter of time before we find it. Weve attached a copy of Longwoods EAB management plan  a document that could be used by land managers as a proactive guide to plan for systematic protection, removal, and replacement of ash in managed landscapes  before its arrival. Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Halyomorpha halys) expanded its grasp as THE fall and winter household invader. Reports of damage to desirable fruit trees and vegetables  common in other states  were largely absent. Fall of 2009 had record numbers in the Eastern and Central Counties migrating and overwintering in homes. Egg masses and nymphal hatch were also abundant in summer and fall 2010. Damage to the invasive tree Paulownia tomentosa was the worst Ive (Casey) seen it this year. There were also reports of bark crack feeding on the trunks of trifoliate maple, although it was unclear whether this damage was actually caused by Halyomorpha halys. Master Gardeners throughout Delaware have reported this insect feeding on various vegetables in home gardens and calls regarding home invasions have begun. An infestation of Japanese Cedar Longhorned Beetle was detected in Cryptomeria at a Bucks Co., PA nursery. The specimens were reputed to come from a NJ wholesale nursery and were being held B&B for further distribution and sale. Diseases Sycamore anthracnose was very prevalent on susceptible London Planetrees and our native American sycamore. Most trees were defoliated early but recovered. We saw several outbreaks of Monilinia blight on Japanese quince causing dieback of twigs and causing blossom and twig blight on Kwanzan cherry. The pathogen was identified as Monilinia laxa by Dr. Schnabel at Clemson. This disease was very prevalent in New Castle County. We observed a record early detection (May 4) of powdery mildew on flowering dogwood this spring. Dutch elm disease was confirmed on Princeton American elm in several different sites by arborists this year. While this cultivar has been reported to have some resistance to DED in the past, it is not proving to be a reliable resistant cultivar in our region. Agdia confirmed the presence of tobacco rattle virus by PCR in Epimedium rubrum from a garden in southeast PA. This is the first time this has been confirmed in our area. Pythium and Fusarium crown rot were found infecting numerous perennials under drought stress (Vinca, Veronica,Cimicifuga, shasta daisy). Confirmed new reports- Downy mildew caused by Plasmopara helstedii on Rudbeckia and tar spot (Rhytisma sp.) on Ilex opaca, Australian willow (Geijera parviflora) was diagnosed with Nectria canker, and bacterial blight (Pseudomonas aeruginosa). Hypoxylon canker is increasing in incidence in Delaware, on oak and other hardwoods. MILESTONES The next milestones include: 1) Developing a new template for arthropod data related to national elm trial. (Objective 3) 2) Compilation of bacterial leaf scorch survey (leader, G. Adams) conducted collaboratively by NCERA-193 members. 3) Active recruitment of new members, and promotion of attendance at future meetings.

Publications are in the link to the attached pdf file.