If you want to go through a free-for-seven-days registration, an editorial entitled "Felled by Fungus" is available on the New Scientist web site here: Felled by Fungus The editorial blends the story of Phytophthora and the mass distribution of exotic plants by nurseries, suggesting a change in propagation and distribution practices is required to prevent further outbreaks of this and other diseases.
the issue this Spring caused many headahces in the local area. Better techniques are needed for a few tasks. Better exchange of info is needed too although I feel this issue was handled swiftly and effectively by the BCLNA, BCMAAF and CFIA. We all got stuck in a big "what the heck do we do" fest and it seems like we got through so I say kudos to those who helped battle the issue and chastise those who tried to battle it.
It does seem to have been dealt with reasonably well. When you say "those who tried to battle it", do you mean there were organizations that tried to deny there was a problem, or actively worked against the recall? I'm just curious.
rumors were that a few garden centers were not following the requested quarantine procedures completely. Ill informed staff below management level did, and still does in my opinion abound. I have been in garden centers and have overheard conversations between employees and consumers, absolutely dreadful information is being passed along by those who I am sure have no ill intent, they just don't know any better. I also would like to mention that the BCLNA has canvassed its membership to donate funds to help pay the costs of dealing with this issue, there are a number of very large companies that are not members of the BCLNA that have gotten a free ride through this disaster, they too should consider a reasonable donation towards the cause. If you purchased a Camellia between now and last September you should call CFIA and ask them if you need to be conscerned about the possiblity of it being infected with P. ramorum (AKA Sudden Oak Death or SOD).
Of interest to note is the difference between the CFIA and the USDA in approach to this threat. The CFIA includes all species of the various genera, whereas the USDA (APHIS) is species specific, with the exception of genus Rhododendron and genus Camellia. Aphis reports 140 confirmed cases in 19 states as of July 2, 2004 with the most recent case in Nassau County, NY.
I see that the most recent case was from a mature oak tree in a park. That doesn't seem to bode well.
In addition, I received a private communication from a USDA agent that P. ramorum has been found on a non-host plant in one of the eastern states. This is in the process of being confirmed by an independent investigator. We may be able to slow down the progress, I doubt we can stop it. The attached images are of P. ramorum on Rhododendron 'Vulcan', discovered in a plant nursery in the Greater Vancouver area, June, 2003. Photos by Shane Sela, Forestry Specialist, Plant Products Program Network, Western Area, CFIA
Chris. Last I heard (BCLNA Landscape Commoditymeeting, last week) was that the system will be up and down stream for certification. In order for a nursery to be certified SOD clear the nurseries they bring in material (I think host material only) will need to be certified and thusly any nursery that they ship to will require that the nursery is SOD certified in order to retain their certification. Random and regular testing will be carried out by a team of trained inspectors (I think on the BCLNA but it may be CFIA tab). Testing will be regular and timely (certain number of tests per annum). The nurseries will be held to a best management practices regime (once it itself is finalized) things like boot wash on entry, limited entry, cleanliness of proppogation and growing materials, material handling, plant placement in the nursery (spacial differences and perhaps buffer zones to lower contamination between species and hosts). I dont know how much of it is concrete as yet but they are working very hard on this to keep the doors open to export and to try to limit the spread. But, I am also afraid that there may be little we can do but satisfy the rule makers that we are trying our best. For best info Hedy Dick at the BCLNA office is who you want to talk to . You posted some pictures from Shane, does he not have the program info to offer? I saw him at the beginning of this issue at the first few grower meetings and he was getting slammed from all sides. Must have a thick skin!
little something I found while doing some off day reading and searching... http://www.chesco.com/~treeman/SHIGO/COP.html
and a little more via another chat forum poster. http://www.lawnandlandscape.com/news/news.asp?ID=2860
An authority on Phytophthora I know said some time ago that quarantines won't work for this now. I believe this is quite true. We saw indications of a blast form of Phytophthora back in the late 80's in Oregon that caused some severe destruction to some Rhododendron and Azalea growers. I know this is not what anyone will want to read but the symptoms as shown on the Vulcan are not anything new. We saw that kind of stuff in Oregon starting around 1987 in some Coastal areas. The pathogen was determined to be a form of Phytophthora other than ramorum. The area of concern for me at present based on reports I am seeing coming out of various US, predominately West Coast Universities, is that currently all studies are basing all their findings on SOD as being ramorum which may be accurate and it may not be so accurate. It makes sense to develop and utilize a certification program for plants in British Columbia nurseries but it may also require that those same nurseries cannot bring in new plant material into their nurseries for a very long time as well, in order to remain certified. As one that has been directly involved with insect caused quarantines let me point out that for Agriculture here in California that once a County has been placed under quarantine, no Agricultural products can go out of the County and none can come in either. We become isolated is how it used to work. With the "Med Fly" crisis the State Department of Agriculture amended things to let Agricultural commodities stay within the State of California but no known plant carriers of that insect could come into our State until we had a handle on where did the Med Fly come in from and how infested had we become in the areas where the insects were found by use of pheromone traps. It is too late to enact a quarantine as no one really knows how long you or we've been infested with this pathogen. All we can do is try to prevent its spread and to do that we have to be vigilant in how we carry out our preventative measures. Jim I am not at liberty to discuss the SOD issue any further at this time. Sorry about that.
