Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Long-term funding: The focus of the morning session with industry representatives was securing long-range funding of NRSP5. There was discussion regarding the credibility problems that could arise if NRSP5 were largely funded by the tree fruit nursery industry that it serves. Hunter remarked that the credibility issue is a key reason why we should strive for a balance of federal and private support. Cavalieri suggested that the IR-4 funding model might be appropriate for NRSP5. IR-4 appears as a line item in the CSREES budget. It would require first obtaining authority and then gathering the political clout necessary to get it into the Farm Bill. Additional agencies must be engaged in the discussion about the future of NRSP5. The nurserymen present recognize and appreciate the importance of NRSP5, but gaining grower support might be difficult because, due to the success of NRSP5, growers do not perceive viruses as a great problem. Industry representatives stated their commitment to developing a plan but said they would need guidance in navigating the politics of presenting the cause to legislators. Cavalieri suggested that the Northwest Horticulture Council is knowledgeable of the process but he also emphasized that the effort needs to be national in scope.

Woodson indicated that North Central Directors would be supportive of the industry-driven effort although probably not to the extent of using their political capital to get federal funds for this project. The NC Directors already stated that NRSP5 should be supported by industry, not federal dollars. There was some discussion about whether we need to think more broadly about the mission of NRSP5, which in turn would open up new funding possibilities. Woodson mentioned, as an example, the National Disease Diagnostics Network, which is being established in the wake of 9/11 and is receiving new federal dollars.

Eastwell described fortunate developments in research funding. USDA-ARS funds became available to support a graduate student and a post-doctoral researcher to be located at the USDA-ARS lab in Wapato, WA. Eastwell will co-advise the graduate student on a project focused on the Cherry Leaf Roll Virus-vector relationship. The post-doc will improve diagnosis of little cherry disease. Both USDA-ARS positions are mandated to work closely with NRSP5.

Howell reviewed the process of material distribution by NRSP5. Most budwood is distributed to nurseries, and then researchers get it from nurseries. This is efficient and convenient for researchers, but it masks the importance of NRSP5 to land grant university researchers. Cavalieri suggested that users of NRSP5 could be charged considerably more than the current fees. There was general agreement that fees could be increased, but in doing so, one risks suitcase importation of virus-infected plant material.

Coston noted the significance of a journal article provided to committee members (Cembali et al., 2003, Crop Protection 22:1149-1156) that summarizes the economic impacts of NRSP5. In this paper, the total benefits for nurseries, growers, and consumers were estimated at $227.4 per year, which is more than 420 times the cost of the program. Coston said that this success story should be announced in the popular literature and cited by any group to support a case for NRSP5.

Current project renewal: Reviews from most regions were positive and supportive of renewal. However, the multistate research committee of the North Central Region suggested that NRSP5 primarily serves the nursery industry and not land grant researchers. They recommended that the project be considered for renewal but with funding in 2004 at the 2003 level and then substantially less funding in subsequent years. The renewal of funding for the next four years will proceed (January submission) as planned, notwithstanding the negative comments of the North Central committee. The group discussed a strategy in which we would keep the four-year budget flat but generate additional funds from other sources. This would signal the movement of NRSP5 away from formula funds.

Resolution: Aldwinckle moved that we keep the multistate research funds budget flat and then obtain the funds needed to cover yearly increases in costs from other sources. Seconded by Scott. Passed unanimously by the technical committee.

2004 meeting: The next meeting is tentatively set for May 20, 2004 in Davis, CA; Rowhani will look into facilities. In addition to California nurserymen, it would be desirable for some industry representatives from Oregon and Washington to attend as well, to get an overview of NRSP5 and its value to the tree fruit industry. This date may coincide with the meeting of WCC-20, whose members might have an interest in the goals of NRSP5.

After many years of service to NRSP5, this was the final meeting for Jim Hunter before his retirement. Eastwell and Howell expressed their appreciation for his hard work on behalf of NRSP5.

Mission statement: NRSP5 is a national program committed to minimize the adverse effects of viruses in orchards of the United States by providing virus-free propagation material of important temperate tree fruit varieties from domestic and foreign sources through traditional and innovative methods of virus testing and therapy, and by forging collaborative relationships with government agencies, universities and industry to help maintain U.S. agricultural productivity, market competitiveness, balance of trade, and a diverse, wholesome and affordable food supply.

Accomplishments:

Improved diagnostics: The causal agents of many virus diseases of pome and stone fruit trees have never been identified. Characteristics of woody plants made it very difficult for scientists to work on these virus and virus-like agents. However, with the advent of improved molecular techniques the nature of many of these disease agents is now being studied.

Output: In the past year we believe that we have identified the causal agent of cherry rusty mottle disease for the first time as a member of the Foveavirus family. Other Foveaviruses were also associated with previously non-described diseases of decline of sweet cherry trees in two central Washington orchards. Portions of the genome from each of these Foveaviruses were sequenced and used to develop molecular tests (RT-PCR) for these viruses.

Outcome: Molecular tests are being used to assist growers in identifying and roguing infected trees. Early recognition of diseased trees is essential to minimize the economic impact of these diseases.

Output: In accordance with accepted international standards, it currently requires three crop years of observation to diagnose apple green crinkle disease. This delays the release of foreign apple varieties from quarantine and delays the response to growers facing crop losses to disease. Apple green crinkle disease is a disease for which the causal agent is unknown. Through the use of innovative virus elimination procedures and application of new molecular techniques, we have determined an apparent relationship between this disease and isolates of Apple stem pitting virus.

Outcome: We have the ability to rapidly identify Apple stem pitting virus by several methods. Therefore, when identity of the apple green crinkle pathogen is confirmed to the satisfaction of the scientific community, the introduction of new apple varieties into U.S. production will be accelerated. Growers will have a more varied and desirable apple product line to offer U.S. and foreign consumers.

Output: Over the last three years, we have worked with nurserymen and private and public plant propagation laboratories to improve the woody plants used for virus testing. Greenhouse tests that require virus indicator plants are conducted on one-year old Prunus, Malus and Pyrus seedlings. These seedlings are grafted with buds of the virus indicator selection and simultaneously chip budded with tissue of the candidate clone. This double budding is prone to failure if the indicator bud fails to grow (which happens fairly often when virus is present in the candidate variety); the test is wasted and often cannot be repeated until the following year. We have attacked this problem with two strategies: 1) sleeping eyes and 2) tissue culture propagation. Last year, as an experiment, a few of our indicators were budded onto seedlings in late summer in the nursery row. These seedlings were harvested, planted in the greenhouse, and then utilized for virus assays. These assays were successful. Based on this success most of the seedlings are now being budded in the nursery row to establish sleeping eye trees for this coming winters virus testing. Tissue culture is also being utilized in efforts to make the woody indicator program more efficient. In cooperation with Bill Proebsting at Oregon State University and Michael Remmick at North American Plants, three of our Prunus indicator clones were established and multiplied via tissue culture. These included Canindex1, Kwanzan, and Tilton.

Outcomes: Since these vegetatively propagated and self-rooted indicator plants will not need double budding, only the candidate tissue will need to be grafted to these young trees. This increases the reliability and efficiency of diagnosis. Consequently, results of tests are obtained more rapidly and corrective measures can be implemented by the grower or nursery.

Virus management activities:
Output: Molecular characterization of the diversity of Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus isolates from Prunus spp. has led to more reliable detection methods.

Outcomes: In collaborative studies with Jim Nugent at Michigan State University and with nurserymen in Washington State, we are studying the possible relationship between several diseases of tree decline in plums and cherries to the presence of Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus.

Output: We recently discovered Cherry leafroll virus in the cherry production regions of Washington. We helped develop educational fliers and booklets, made presentations, conducted field days, and visited suspect orchards in cooperation with an industry funded liaison technician and county pest board personnel.

Outcome: NRSP5 scientists provided leadership for and participated in a Cherry leaf roll virus eradication program initiated in 2003 in Central Washington. Major cooperators in this effort are growers, the Washington State Tree Fruit Research Commission, chemical and packing house fieldmen, and Cooperative Extension Specialists in Washington and Oregon. Because of our efforts in delineating the extent of infection, two County pest boards have included this disease on control lists, and funded inspectors to aid in elimination of infected trees. Since this virus appears to be pollen-borne, we also lead efforts to verify that pollen sold by commercial pollen companies was tested for this virus prior to distribution.

Output: NRSP5 personnel have been active participants on committees associated with the North American Plant Protection Organization and the National Plant Board in efforts to establish standards for reducing risk of transporting pests in shipments of deciduous fruit trees.

Outcome: NRSP5 is having a direct impact on the development of standards for the safe movement of temperate fruit trees into and within the U.S.

Variety distribution and acquisition:
Output: Over 110 individuals, representing research, nursery and fruit production sectors of the stone and pome fruit industry, obtained virus-tested propagation material from NRSP5 this past year. A total of 20,331 buds of several hundred cultivars were harvested and shipped. This represents over 900 individual collections from trees in the NRSP5 working collection of non-proprietary varieties and from those proprietary selections that are housed in NRSP5 screenhouses. Individuals receiving the material included Land Grant University and federal research scientists, nurserymen, state certification personnel, private growers, and international scientists. The preponderance of the budwood went to nurseries and to state certification agencies for the production of registered mother trees. It is from these nurseries that growers and research scientists throughout the country subsequently obtain virus-tested trees for production and research purposes.

Twenty new clones, representing new selections from USDA-ARS breeding programs, cider apples from the National Clonal Germplasm Repository for Malus, and a few older varieties were acquired for the non-proprietary (public) collection. An additional 73 foreign and 60 patented varieties were introduced to the program. The foreign clones were shipped from Australia, Brazil, Czech Republic, Italy, Korea, Latvia, New Zealand, Russia, and Spain. The sources of the patented clones included private nurseries, but most were submitted by breeding programs including those managed by land grant universities and by USDA-ARS.

In addition to the acquisition of new clones, several cultivars were submitted for specific virus testing. Seventy-five were assayed by woody indicator plants and by laboratory procedures to qualify them for certification in the state of California or to help growers and researchers diagnosis disease problems.

Outcomes: As a result of these efforts, researchers at Land Grant Universities are able to obtain virus-free propagation material, either directly or through nurseries. This abrogates the impact that viruses may have on research results including horticultural and agricultural traits. The diversity and quality of fruit tree varieties available to growers and to consumers was increased.

Business plan:

Output: The greater cost of the programs increased dependence on molecular assays to augment biological assays and the increased labor costs demands increased budgets to maintain the operation of the program at projected levels. In response to growing concerns about long-term funding of NRSPs, the process of exploring alternative funding strategies was initiated. Discussions have included tree fruit nurseries and growers in different regions of the U.S., representatives of state and national regulatory and research agencies as well as CSREES.

Outcome: A modified budget plan was adopted to shift more financial responsibilities from MRF to individual sponsors of material entering the program. This strategy will sustain the program with level MRF funding for the next four years. A list of fiscal and infrastructure need reaching beyond FY2008 is being created with additional input from industry and government agencies that interact with NRSP5 and its mission. Concrete funding needs and strategies for procuring future funding are being prepared in anticipation of the annual meeting in May 2004. The Northwest Nursery Improvement Institute has created a committee to assist in enlisting industry and political input from all regions of the country.

Cembali, T, Folwell, RJ, Wandschneider, P, Eastwell, KC and Howell, W. 2003. Economic implications of a virus prevention program in deciduous tree fruits in the US. Crop Protection 22:1149-1156.