Potential for disease spread to BC
Strict regulatory controls are in place in California, Oregon, and Washington to prevent the spread of P. ramorum, and Canadian quarantine regulations have been established to help prevent the introduction of the disease into Canada on nursery stock, soil or other host materials.There is a high risk that Ramorum blight and dieback will have a serious impact on BC's horticulture sector and environment, due to its wide host range and the presence of a suitable climate. The introduction of this disease and its subsequent spread could threaten the ornamental and berry industries as well as many native plants. Prevention of its introduction and rapid eradication efforts, should the disease be introduced, are key to protect these industries from losses caused by P. ramorum.
How can you prevent the introduction of this disease into BC?
To help prevent the introduction of P. ramorum, do not transport infected or potentially infected host material and soil that are taken from areas where the pathogen is known to occur. Contact the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's (CFIA) local office regarding quarantine restriction information on movement of hosts and associated materials. Be aware of the symptoms, visually inspect host plants, and report possible cases to your local office of the CFIA, Canadian Forestry Service (CFS), or Ministry of Agriculture & Lands (MAL).The Canadian Nursery and Landscape Association (CNLA) has developed a comprehensive certification program for commercial nurseries. The program was launched in the fall of 2004 and it annually certifies more than 250 nurseries in BC. The key components of the program are annual nursery sampling and testing for P. ramorum, implementation of best management practices, and independent third-party audits to ensure nursery compliance. The program reduces the risk of P. ramorum being introduced and/or established at a nursery and, thereby, protects the garden centres and landscapers that purchase planting stock from the nursery.
Control
- Preventing the introduction and spread of P. ramorum is the key to minimize the impact on the nursery and environment.
- Commercial nurseries are advised to adopt the recommended Best Management Practices (BMPs) and the Phytophthora ramorum Nursery Certification Program to safeguard the industry.
- Fosetyl-AL (Chipco Aliette T&O) and metalaxyl (Subdue MAXX) have gained emergency registration for preventative use in nurseries and landscape plantings.
- Scout for visible symptoms, particularly during spring, early summer and fall when the pathogen is active. If suspected, immediately notify the local office of the CFIA, CFS, or MAL.
Quarantines have been put in place in both California and Oregon to limit the spread of the disease, and eradication is underway in Oregon. As a rule, these regulations pertain to nursery plants of known hosts or their close relatives, wood products and soil. An import policy D-01-01 titled, "Phytosanitary Requirements to Prevent the Entry of Phytophthora ramorum" has been implemented to prevent the introduction of sudden oak death into Canada (CFIA – revised Oct. 18/2005). The regulations may be viewed at http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/protect/dir/d-01-01e.shtml
Detection and Identification
In BC, disease and pathogen identification services can be obtained by submitting suspicious samples to the BCMAL Plant Diagnostic Laboratory in Abbotsford, or to the Pacific Forestry Centre Laboratory in Victoria.
Further Information
- Sudden Oak Death Information Page (Canadian Food Inspection Agency)
- Proposed P. ramorum Compensation Regulations (Canada Gazette)
- Canadian P. ramorum Certification Program - Canadian Nursery Landscape Association
- The California Oak Mortality Task Force
see http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/cropprot/sod.htm
Ministry Contacts:
Siva Sabaratnam, Ph.D.
Plant Pathologist
Food Safety & Quality Branch
Tel: 604 556-3029
Dave Woodske
Industry Specialist, Ornamentals
Industry Competitiveness Branch
Tel: 604 556-3044
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