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Updated 4 September 2004

BLACKSPOT ON ROSES

by Diane Brueckman
TRN United States Midwest Correspondent

One of the neat things about being the Rosarian at the Missouri Botanical Garden is having the opportunity to learn and participate in the latest rose findings. Some of those experiences have not been all that pleasant; Rose Rosette Disease as an example. Then along comes a study to determine the predictability of blackspot resistance inheritabilities.
 
For years, we have known Diplocarpon rosae is the fungus that causes blackspot in roses and we all have used a wide range of fungicides to control the disease in our garden roses. Still, we have experienced failure and the solution has been to find yet another chemical to combat the problem. How often do we find a rose that is seemingly resistant to blackspot only to search out that rose, bring it home, and plant it in our gardens with high hopes that we will have the perfect disease-resistant rose. Low and behold, it develops blackspot and drops its leaves. Such is the plight of rose enthusiasts.

A study is currently underway at the University of Minnesota to identify and procure various pathogenic races of Diplocarpon rosae. Researchers throughout the world have identified numerous pathogenic races, and in one case, the pathogen has been subjected to DNA-fingerprinting analysis. The research aims to make use of the two technologies (race identification and DNA-fingerprinting analysis) by gathering a sampling of D. rosae isolates from across North America and subjecting them to race differentiation tests and DNA-fingerprinting.
 
Anyone who has ever grown a rose knows that blackspot adapts to the chemicals that we use and has a way of getting our favorite rose no matter what we do to try to stop it. Blackspot is not as mysterious as it seems. Through research, it has been found that different races of the disease are found in different geographic locations, and a plant that is resistant to blackspot in one area may be very susceptible to the race of D. rosea found in another area. Commerce is also partly responsible for the transport of disease from one part of the country to another. Hence, your perfect rose may have picked up a new strain of blackspot from a new rose.
 
The Missouri Botanical Garden has been asked to send samples of various plant materials from specific roses to aid in the research. Vance Whitaker is doing his Master’s Thesis on the identification and procurement of various pathogenic races of D. rosea. The samples I send will be from specific cultivars of roses and eventually will be inoculated with the disease and studied. Specific cultivars from various locations throughout North America are being used to determine if the occurrence of races is influenced more by cultivar or geographic location.
 
The end result will be to combine the findings of the D. rosea study with the ongoing breeding program under the direction of Kathy Zuzek. Ms Zuzek has been breeding hardy roses for Minnesota for several years and has co-authored a book, Roses for the North. The goal is to produce roses that will be durably resistant to a wide range of D. rosea races as well as being resistant in many locations in North America. The study is expected to take up to 12 years to complete. Perhaps at the end of that time, roses will indeed be just a bit more carefree.

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The following news items are reprinted, with occasional editions, by permission of Green Mail from Branch-Smith Publications:

USDA reviews SOD crisis
USDA met with several state associations and ANLA last week to review how USDA and the industry have handled the sudden oak death (SOD) crisis since last spring and to evaluate which steps need to be taken next. Craig Regelbrugge, ANLA's sr. dir. of gov't relations, said the meeting focused on 3 areas: The need for a consistent national quarantine framework; the need to deal more aggressively with European plant material that may harbor A1-type diseases; and the need to refine management practices to address the threat of SOD. "Several presenters raised the need for a revised assessment of the risk that [SOD] poses, both to nurseries and to plant resources," Regelbrugge said. 202.789.2900.

Senators introduce anti-SOD bill
Two West Coast senators -- Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and Gordon Smith, R-Ore. -- introduced the Sudden Oak Death Syndrome Control Act, S. 2575. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry and may be expedited for legislative action. The bill has 3 aspects: research, monitoring and regulation; management, treatment and fire prevention; and education and outreach activities related to Phytophthora ramorum, which causes sudden oak death.

Oregon issues Top 100 invasives list
Ore. Invasive Species Council reissued its list of Top 100 most dangerous invasive species. The council releases this list annually to inform agencies, the public, environmental groups and industries of potential threats. Making the list were 9 aquatic plants and 21 terrestrial plants, none of which are horticulturally significant. Phytophthora ramorum, the sudden oak death pathogen, made the list, as did kudzu, which has been found in Oregon 3 times. Eradication efforts continue for kudzu, as officials don’t think that "the weed that ate the South" has been completely removed from the state.

Officials hope to release climbing fern biocontrol
USDA scientists are seeking permission to release an Australian mite species as a biocontrol of Old World climbing fern, Florida's worst invasive weed, according to USDA. Floracarus perrepae mites feed on and damage the fern's fronds. Scientists have isolated the mite on climbing fern specimens in Australia that are genetic matches to the ferns found in Florida.

National wet weather trend could disappear
Scientists revealed that from 1971-2000, weather across the United States was 4% wetter than the rest of the century. However, they say recent trends indicate that the wet period could be ending. They warn that municipalities and ag producers could have gotten spoiled by the wet period and may not be prepared for prolonged drought. "These streamflow volumes, which many communities may have grown accustomed to or even dependent on, will not be there when drier rainfall patterns assert themselves again," said USDA hydrologist Mike Van Liew.

Mich. St. evaluates perennials
Since 1996, Mich. St. Univ. has conducted a perennial trial program that evaluates 40-50 plants annually. 2003 trials have been completed and are available online. Evaluations are performed from early May until the first hard frost, usually the 2nd week in October. Evaluation criteria include foliage quality, plant vigor, flower uniformity, flower stem strength and flower display. Other notes include hardiness, flowering period, observed disease or insect symptoms and temperature and rainfall records.

USDA adds Arkansas to beetle quarantine
USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service added Arkansas to its list of states quarantined for Japanese beetles. Recent trapping surveys indicate that Arkansas is infested with the pest, according to APHIS. The notice was published in the July 6 Federal Register and went into effect immediately. USDA will give consideration to comments on the new rule received before Sept. 7. Japanese beetles cause damage to more than 300 host plants, and estimated cost for annual control efforts is $460 million.

Chicagoland introduces new coneflower
A year after introducing Orange Meadowbrite, the world's first orange-flowering hybrid Echinacea, Chicagoland Grows introduced Mango Meadowbrite ('CBG Cone 3'). This branch sport of Orange Meadowbrite has neon, mango-yellow flowers with good fragrance. It’s hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 4-9 and reaches 2½-3 feet tall. These introductions were developed through an Echinacea breeding program led by Jim Ault at Chicago Botanic Garden. Mango Meadowbrite will be available this fall. (847) 834-6819.

Health officials fear new mosquito disease
U.S. health officials are on the lookout for another mosquito-borne disease that could be more troublesome than West Nile virus. Rift Valley fever, which originated in Africa, can kill people, with a near-1% mortality rate, making it deadlier than West Nile. Most people get a flu-like illness when infected. Some may develop serious symptoms, including liver or kidney disease. The virus is worrisome because at least 30 species of mosquitoes are capable of carrying it from cattle or sheep to humans, far more than the kind of mosquitoes that can carry West Nile. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Researcher names blackspot-resistant roses
John Hartman, Univ. of Ky. plant pathologist, compiled an extensive list of roses resistant to blackspot. Some resistant hybrid teas: Auguste Renoir, Bride’s Dream, Cayenne, Duet, Elizabeth Taylor, Keepsake, Lady, Love and Peace, Mister Lincoln, Pink Peace, Smooth Lady, Tropicana and Voodoo. Resistant floribunda and grandiflora roses: Angel Face, Candelabra, First Kiss, Hot Cocoa, Love, Prima Donna, Razzle Dazzle, Simplicity and Viva (see photo near top of this section).

Are your drain holes too big?
Wayne McLaurin, Univ. of Ga. horticulture professor, studied how nursery containers with smaller drainage holes affect water use and conservation. Using more, smaller drain holes conserved water and increased plant growth in some situations, according to his research. He compared 3 types of 3-gallon containers: One had 5 drainage holes 3/4 inches in size, 1 had 10 holes about 1/3 inch in size and 1 had 10 holes 3/16 inch in size. More, smaller holes improved water saturation uniformity in the media. (706) 542-2471.

Western drought worries governors
Governors from 18 western states met last week to discuss the drought situation. Tree ring data show that some regions are experiencing the worst drought in more than 400 years. The drought in the Colorado River Basin, the primary water supply for 7 states, is as bad or worse than the basin's biggest drought in the 1590s. With Lake Mead predicted to drop to its lowest point in 40 years, Las Vegas may have to declare a drought emergency by year's end.

Cilantro fights food poisoning bacteria
Dodecanol, a chemical found in cilantro (coriander) in minute quantities, has been found to be potent in killing the salmonella bacteria that commonly cause food poisoning. Isao Kubo, a chemist at Univ. of Calif.-Berkeley, and scientists at Autonomous University in Guadalajara, Mexico, studied several chemicals in cilantro. The researchers found that dodecanol is the only naturally occurring compound that can control the bacteria as effectively as the commonly used antibiotic gentamicin. Kubo said the naturally occurring amount of dodeconol found in cilantro leaves and seeds is not enough to control the bacteria.

London’s Tate Museum holds garden exhibit
More proof of Britain's obsession with gardening: the renowned Tate Museum is exhibiting more than 100 paintings that examine how gardening has affected British art over the past 200 years. The exhibit will run through Aug. 30.

$400,000 project will address planting depth
Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Ill., is heading up a $402,254 project that will address planting-depth issues. A growing concern in the U.S. green industry is the premature death of landscape trees due to their roots being planted too deeply. The project, titled "Stopping Tree Losses from Buried Root Systems: A National Research and Technology Transfer Coalition," received $109,937 in federal grants, and the rest is funded by the arboretum. The project was announced as part of $1.16 million in federal dollars granted to 14 organizations to research and promote urban forestry.

Cornell develops perennial Web site
Cornell Univ. has launched a new Web site with photos and growth characteristics for more than 150 perennial plants. The database is fully searchable by plant name, height, flower time and color. Plants include those considered to be commercial perennials along with a number of lesser-known plants. The site was developed by masters degree student Allison Mayer with horticulture professor Bill Miller. The site is hosted by Texas A&M Univ. professor Dan Lineberger, who is Web master of Texas Aggie Horticulture. Plant information on the site is based on observations in Ithaca, N.Y., USDA Hardiness Zone 5.

Briggs & Stratton names U.S.'s Top 10 Lawns
Briggs & Stratton has released its annual Top 10 Lawns list, which ranks public green spaces. No. 1 on the list? Louisville, Ky.'s Waterfront Park. This year marks the 1st time the company invited the public to vote. Also in the Top 10: Wylie Park (No. 2) in Aberdeen, S.D., and Chicago Botanical Garden (No. 9).

Fertilizers may inhibit beneficial fungi
USDA's Ag Research Service scientists looked at how certain fertilizers and potting media affect development of mycorrhizae during nursery production. Mycorrhizae are naturally occurring fungi that help plant roots absorb water and nutrients. Phosphorus-rich inorganic fertilizers usually inhibited mycorrhizae, and initial studies show that compost high in phosphorus inhibit the fungi as well. In some cases peat inhibited the fungi, while in other cases it did not. Coconut coir did not inhibit mycorrhizae, but reduced plant growth in some cases. Organic fertilizers were usually compatible with mycorrhizae.

Click photo for larger images and more information.

Fire ant predators become established in Florida
Pseudacteon curvatus, a South American predator of imported fire ants, has become permanently established in Florida, USDA says. The flies, which lay eggs in fire ant heads, have increased in number since they were released in Gainesville in March 2003. This particular biotype of P. curvatus can parasitize even small worker ants and prefers the more abundant red imported fire ants.

Western cities search for water
Many communities in the Western half of the U.S. have proposed new pipelines to secure more usable water. Las Vegas is proposing a $2 billion network of pipes to bring water from deep wells across rural Nevada. Environmentalists and ranchers are protesting this proposal. Colorado Springs, Colo., proposes a 43-mile, $900 million pipeline from the Arkansas River. El Paso, Texas, proposes a 90-mile, $500 million pipeline from Dell Valley. Salt Lake City is proposing a pipeline from Strawberry Reservoir, east of Provo, Utah. Source: USA Today.

New Hampshire names 21 invasive plants
Starting in 2007, it will be illegal to sell, transport or propagate Acer platanoides, Berberis thunbergii and Euonymus alatus in New Hampshire, according to new regulations issued by the N.H. Invasive Species Committee. The ban includes all cultivars and varieties. The committee placed another 18 plants (including Japanese honeysuckle, European barberry and common buckthorn) on a list of invasive plants to be banned in 2005. Norway maple, Japanese barberry and burning bush go on the list Jan. 1, 2007. For a complete list of the rules and the selected invasive species, click on this link to download the PDFdocument: http://www.state.nh.us/agric/pdf/topics/hyperlinks/Rules_8.pdf

More longhorn beetles found in New Jersey
An Asian longhorn beetle was discovered by a homeowner in Carteret, N.J., in Middlesex County on Aug. 2. Follow-up inspections found another beetle on city property on Aug. 4. This is the 2nd discovery of Asian longhorn beetle in the state. It was discovered about 10 miles away in Jersey City in October 2002. Officials instituted a quarantine within a 1-mile radius of the Carteret discovery. (609) 292-5531.

CANGC hopes victory opens doors
Calif. Assoc. of Nurseries and Garden Centers hopes its legal victory over Kentucky will convince other states to open their doors to California nursery products. AL, DE, FL and MS still have full or partial bans on California plants, stemming from the discovery of Phytophthora ramorum in S. California this spring. CANGC sued Kentucky for illegally enforcing bans more strict than federal quarantine guidelines and won the suit on July 30. "We plan to work with the other states to prove to them the effectiveness of the federal regulations and the strength of our legal case. As was necessary in Kentucky, CANGC will contemplate additional litigation if that is what's necessary," said Robert Falconer, CANGC exec. v.p. http://www.cangc.org

Florida fears smuggled budwood
Fla. Dept. of Ag. & Consumers Services is on high alert because of international citrus budwood smuggling activities. U.S. Department of Homeland Security intercepted 2 shipments containing 350 cuttings of citrus budwood from Japan at a postal facility in Daly City, Calif. The intercepted boxes were manifested as "candy and chocolates" and "books and chocolates." One of the budwood cuttings tested positive for citrus canker and was destroyed. The importation of citrus budwood is restricted. All citrus propagation material must enter the U.S. through regulatory channels and certified citrus introduction programs. In addition to the threat of citrus canker, foreign citrus budwood may also harbor injurious plant viruses and citrus greening disease. Anyone with information regarding illegal citrus budwood smuggling is urged to call (888) 397-1517.

Council names 2 new All-American daylilies
2005 All-American daylilies are 'Red Volunteer' and 'Miss Mary Mary,' both of which are rust resistant. The All-American Daylily Selection Council chose 'Red Volunteer' for the exhibition category and 'Miss Mary Mary' for the landscape category. 'Red Volunteer' has 7-inch red flowers and 'Miss Mary Mary' has yellow flowers and is an offspring of 'Stella d'Oro.' http://www.daylilyresearch.org

Congress debates research funding
The Ag. Appropriations Bill was formally debated on the House floor. The bill recommends the Nursery & Floriculture Research Initiative receive $6 million for fiscal year 2005. Two amendments were added to the bill. One adds $5 million for the prevention of sudden oak death; the other provides an additional $18 million to APHIS for Asian longhorn beetle eradication. The bill must pass the Senate. However, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Ted Stevens warned that Congress' election-year schedule and partisan politics may prevent the legislation from reaching the floor this year, said John Meredith, ANLA dir. of legislative relations. (202) 789-2900; http://www.anla.org

California proposes state invasives plan
California state Assemblymember Lois Wolk (D-Davis) proposed a statewide plan for prevention, control and management of invasive species. The plan includes documenting the invasive species already in California, improving early detection of future invasives and developing programs, including public education, on invasive species. The proposal must be approved by the Legislature and signed by the governor. http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a08

You may remember TRN's recent Science article on Cicadas. Just so you can see we humans aren't the only ones who prey on these little guys, we're including this fascinating photo for your edification (please see our Archives - Science section for the Cicada article)

Updated 26 July 2004

*     From this point forward, the HORTICULTURE and SCIENCE sections will be combined within the framework of the SCIENCE section:     *

UPDATE NOTICE:  The Sudden Oak Death pathogen has been taking stronger hold of crops, field plants, and wild and domestic trees all over the US and around some parts of the world.  Just this April, its presence was once again confirmed at multiple nurseries in the Southern California area.

This pathogen continues to have serious ramifications worldwide.  Along with Dr. Sridharan’s informative report, you’ll find many short items on this subject below:

FROM OUR SCIENCE EDITOR:

Beware of Phytophthora ramorum

Dr. Lakshmi Sridharan

Microorganisms are smart, despite the fact that they have no brain, are microscopic, and have just one or a few chromosomes.  They have greater advantages because of the smaller size of their genome, which can mutate at a very rapid rate; enabling them to conquer adverse environmental conditions.  Their sole impetus is to propogate.

To do that, they live to perform three tasks:  move, feed, and have sex - and these three they do quite well.  In addition, they can reproduce sexually as well as asexually, by several different types of spores, known as motile (e.g. Zoospores) and non- motile spores (e.g. Conidiospores).  Wind or splashing rain carries billions of microscopic spores that help these organisms colonize weakened or otherwise susceptible hosts.

Such colonization has devastating effects on the health of host plants, as pathogenic microorganisms are parasites. In addition, they have the ability to attack more than one host.    

Phytophthora ramorum, the causative agent of sudden oak death is one such microorganism.  To be precise, it is a pathogenic fungus that has found its way from wild Oaks in field and forest to the greenhouses of growers, attacking a huge number of unrelated hosts such as Rhododendron, Camellia, Arbutus ,Syringa ,Viburnum opulus, Vaccinium sp. Pseudotsuga menziesii ), Sequoia Sempervirens, and grand fir ( Abies grandis ), etc.

Phytophthora ramorum is a deadly fungal pathogen causing damage and death to trees and plants in California and Oregon, USA, and in many countries in Europe, including Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Republic of Ireland, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the UK, including the Channel Islands. Additionally, there has been one isolated finding from a nursery in Canada.  Imagine what devastating effects this one fungus, which moved from Asia to Europe and America, could have on ornamental plants in other states in the US.

P. Ramorum has two mating types, A1 and A2.  Sexual reproduction can only occur if these two types come together.  This would result in potentially long-lived spores, making control of the disease much more difficult.  To date, all UK isolates have been the A1 mating type, as have most European isolates, although a single A2 type isolate has been found on the continent. All US woodland isolates have been of the A2 mating type, but European A1 isolates have recently invaded nurseries in North America.

Sudden Oak Death is now an epidemic in California, causing massive death of tanoak ( Lithocarpus densiflorus ), coast live oak ( Quercus agrifolia ), Californian black oak ( Q. kellogii ), and interior live oak ( Q. parvula var. shrevei ) species.  According to the US Department of Agriculture, the other hosts for the pathogen are the following:  

The shrub hosts noted above serve as the primary source of inoculum for initiating and maintaining tree epidemics. The pathogen causes a needle and shoot-dieback of Douglas fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii ), coastal redwood ( Sequoia sempervirens ) and grand fir ( Abies grandis ).  

Until recently, the pathogen in the USA was solely a woodland disease but it has recently been found damaging nursery plants (e.g. rhododendron and camellia) in several US states-- California, Oregon, Georgia, Florida and Canada.

The symptoms:  

P. ramorum attacks the bark (e.g., beech), or both bark and leaves and shoots (e.g., tan oak in California).  Large cankers appear on the bark turning the surface brown to black on the lower trunk that then seeps dark-red sap (see photo) -- commonly called ‘bleeding cankers’ or ‘tarry spots.’

Below the outer bark, mottled areas of necrotic (dead) and discolored inner-bark tissue with black ‘zone lines’ around the edges are found.    Diseased areas then open the door to bark beetles which also attack the trees.  Eventually, cankers girdle the trunk, causing the sudden death of the tree.  Death may be rapid, as in some tan oaks ( Lithocarpus densiflorus ), or take one or more years, as in American Quercus species.  Some infected trees may even recover.    

Cankers do not extend below the soil line and do not appear to infect the roots. Leaf infections most commonly appear as brown necrotic areas, often at the edge or tip of the leaf. The fungus causes a needle blight and dieback of young shoots of Douglas fir, coastal redwood, and grand fir.  Needle blight of young foliage, resulting in an aerial dieback, is common in yews . In Rhododendrons, P. ramorum causes a shoot, twig, and leaf blight.  Infected shoots or twigs develop a brown to black discoloration which ultimately spreads into the leaves through the leaf petioles.    Blackening of the petiole, leaf base, and leaf tip, the mid-rib result from the spread of infection. Wilting of shoots may result from twig cankers however there is no defoliation or spotting on the leaves.    Leaf infection can also occur without twig infection. Roots are unaffected.  

On viburnum , infection commonly occurs at the stem base causing wilting and then death. The pathogen may also cause brown to black leaf infections - especially on evergreen species - and can also affect flowers.  On Pieris and Vaccinium , it causes brown stem lesions that lead to aerial dieback and leaf symptoms as described on rhododendron. On Hamamelis (witch-hazel), symptoms are similar to rhododendron, but symptoms on leaves mainly occur at the tip and edge and are delimited by the veins. The fungus causes only leaf infections on Camellia, Kalmia, Syringa (lilac) and Leucothoe.  Leaf lesions are usually brown to black, typically occurring at the tip or edges of the leaves.  On Camellia , some shoots have also been found infected leading to dieback.

Infection by the fungus happens by means of two different types of asexual ‘spores’ produced on leaves of susceptible leaf hosts, but as yet have not been observed directly on bark cankers on trees. Leaf hosts are therefore likely to be important providers of inoculum for initiating and maintaining tree epidemics. The fungus is regarded as a cool-temperate organism with an optimum temperature for growth of around 20°C and a minimum and maximum temperature for growth of 2°C and 30°C respectively.  Rain splash, wind-driven rain or irrigation, or ground water disperses the spores.  Long distance spread may be by movement of contaminated plant material, growing media, and in soil carried on vehicles, machinery, footwear, or animals.

Control:

The following counties in the State of California are quarantined:  Alameda, Contra Costa, Humboldt, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, and Sonoma.  In the State of Oregon, the USDA has quarantined a nine-square-mile area near the Brookings area of Curry County.    Residents of other states should check with The Department of Agriculture regarding quarantine in their areas.  

The USDA has imposed certain regulations and restriction in the movement of bark chips, forest stock, and mulch of the host plants listed above.  None may be moved interstate from quarantined areas.  (Forest stock is considered to include all known P. ramorum host flowers, trees, shrubs, vines, scions, buds, fruit pits, or other seeds of fruit and ornamental trees or shrubs that are wild-grown, backyard-grown, or naturally occurring, and that are not located on a nursery premises.)  Follow these guidelines strictly.  Report any new occurrences to the USDA immediately.    Nurseries have an obligation to their customers and should destroy any so infected plants.  It is advisable to familiarize yourself with the symptoms of infection, and check all susceptible plants thoroughly before a purchase.  

Reference

USDA Animal and Plant Inspection Service,  Plant Protection and Quarantine:  Phytophthora ramorum Quarantine - Frequently Asked Questions

3rd Edition – November 22, 2002

www.forestry.gov.uk :

Phytophthora ramorum,  A threat to our trees, woodland and heathland

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FROM:

The Rose Spring 2004

Pesticide Action Network UK  (PAN UK)

The journal of the Royal National Rose Society in the UK recently published an article about a change in chemical use regulations and the deregulation of a number of common garden chemicals and pesticides.  These new regulations not only affect gardeners in the UK but also throughout the European Union.  

The current issue of The Rose listed three websites for the UK.  The first www.pesticides.gov.uk is the generic link to government pesticide information and regulations.  The second www.pan-uk.org/lap/withdrawals.htm lists 81 commonly used pesticides that have been withdrawn from the market and are no longer legal to use.  Most of these chemicals are what are known as “Weed & Feed” products for lawns but several are commonly used rose fungicides.  The third website www.pesticidedisposal.org lists safe disposal sites for the UK.  These three websites present important information that Rosarians worldwide should be aware of and, as more national and local governing bodies begin to re-examine chemical use and policy, the websites might serve as a template for distributing useful information to those affected by changes in the rules governing chemical use.

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The following news items are reprinted, with occasional editions, by permission of Green Mail from Branch-Smith Publications:

Spider mites show up early
Mich. St. Univ. entomologist David Smitley said some state ext. agents are seeing spider mite activity 3 weeks earlier than when mites are usually seen. He said early outbreaks are usually a sign that mites or other pests are becoming resistant to routinely used pesticides. He suggests looking closely at marigolds, verbena, New Guinea impatiens and other plants that tend to get spider mites. By the time injury is visible, mite populations have already built up to several hundred per plant. At the first sign of spider mite injury, treat the greenhouse section with Avid, Floramite, Hexygon, Ovation or Sanmite. These miticides should give 4 weeks of suppression.

University starts organic ag. center
Univ. of Fla. launched a research and education center for organic ag., the Center for Organic Agriculture . This partnership between the university and the state's organic farmers aims to improve production practices to help producers and consumers, said assoc. professor Mickie Swisher . She said one of the center’s goals is to create a minor in organic ag. and an organic ag. certificate through the university's college of Ag. and Life Sciences. Research will be conducted at the university's Pine Acres Experimental Station near Gainesville.

Fleuroselect names 2005 winners
Fleuroselect, an int'l. association for testing, protecting and promoting new flower varieties, awarded 4 Gold Medals . PanAmerican Seed’s perennial Coreopsis grandiflora 'Rising Sun' produces over 2-inch-wide, double, fringed golden-yellow flowers with mahogany bases in its 1st year. Gaillardia aristata 'Arizona Sun' is a 1st-year-flowering perennial from Ernst Benary that produces a mass of 3- to 4-inch, red and yellow flowers from June to September. Rudbeckia hirta 'Maya' also from Benary, is a compact annual that produces 3½- to 5-inch double, golden-yellow flowers. Kieft Seeds' Lavatera trimestris 'Twins Hot Pink,' an open-pollinated annual, is a dwarf, 12-inch plant that produces round, single, 4-inch hot-pink flowers from May to September.

West finds some drought relief
Still in the midst of a multi-year drought , Western states have enjoyed healthy rainfalls the past five weeks. Albuquerque's 2.24 inches of rain in one day broke an 1893 record. Parts of the state still have 3-year 20-inch rain deficits, however.

Martha makes a decorating faux pas
Consumers looking to duplicate the Celebrating Spring lunch setting pictured on Page 94 of the April Martha Stewart Living magazine may want to reconsider one of the plant choices. Sitting in an egg cup is a chocolate bunny, wheat grass and lilies of the valley, Convallaria majalis . Lilies of the valley are toxic. A clarification is on the Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Web site and in the June issue of the magazine indicating that the plant is to be used for decorative purposes only and is not edible.

Scotts named environmental steward
Scotts Co. was awarded 2004 Environmental Technologies Award for Roundup FastAct Foam trigger-sprayer. The ready-to-use weed and grass control product is environmentally friendly because it produces a foam, preventing the consumer from overapplying the herbicide.

USDA proposes to ease import regulations
In a move designed to help small businesses and other importers of seed from outside the United States, USDA proposed easing import regulations . Individual importers, small businesses, horticultural societies and arboreta would be able to import small amounts of seed with import permits rather than phytosanitary certificates. The seeds would be inspected at an APHIS station to ensure compliance with permit conditions.

Floriculture crop value declines
The 2003 wholesale value of floriculture crops is down 1% from 2002, according to the just-released USDA Floriculture Crops Summary . It marks the 1st time in at least 12 years that a year-over-year increase was not recorded. Total crop value at wholesale for all growers with $10,000 or more in sales was estimated at $5.16 billion in 2003, compared with $5.21 billion in 2002. California was again the leading state with crops valued at just over $1 billion, down 2%. Florida was down 1% with $823 million in value. These 2 states account for 35% of the total value. The top 5 states (CA, FL, MI, TX and NY) account for nearly $2.7 billion, 52% of the total. Bedding plants again were the leading crop with a total value of almost $2.5 billion, 1% above a year earlier. This represents 51% of the value of all reported crops. The number of growers dropped 8% to 11,913. Total covered area for floriculture production was 929 million sq. ft., 3% below the 2002 estimate.

APHIS implements new plant certification program
USDA's APHIS is amending its regulations to establish a certification program for imported plants. The program requires registration and certification of sites that produce garden plants in countries where Ralstonia solanacearum race 3 biovar 2 occurs. The program also requires site testing for Ralstonia and phytosanitary certificates. Compliance is required for importation of regulated plants into the U.S. The rule was published in the April 23 Federal Register and will be effective May 24. Comments on the program will be accepted until June 22.

2 indicted for smuggling orchids
In March, a federal grand jury in Miami indicted Peruvian national Manuel G. Arias Silva and George W. Norris of Spring, Texas, on several counts of conspiring to smuggle protected orchids into the U.S. from Peru. All species of orchids are protected under the Convention on Int'l. Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Arias sold several shipments of orchids to Norris between January 1999 and October 2003. Arias would obtain a CITES permit from Peruvian authorities that authorized the export of certain numbers of artificially propagated orchids. Arias, at the instruction of Norris, would include orchids in the shipment not listed on the CITES permit, according to the indictment.

MORE ON SUDDEN OAK DEATH:

States close borders to California nursery stock
The sudden oak death pathogen was confirmed at Monrovia Nursery in Azusa, Calif., and Specialty Plants Inc. in San Marcos, Calif.  The California Department of Food and Agriculture is also 90% sure the fungus ( Phytophthora ramorum ) has been detected at 11 other commercial nurseries in Los Angeles, San Diego and Orange counties. Georgia and Florida officials closed their borders to California nursery shipments until CDFA releases the names of the 11 other nurseries. Mississippi quarantined host plants from California. Claude R. Knighten, USDA APHIS public affairs specialist, said test results were expected back by the end of last week. The state of Washington also took action, requiring all nursery dealers to temporarily hold stock received from out of state.

SOD detected on camellia
P. ramorum was detected on 6 camellia varieties at Monrovia's Azusa facility, Knighten said. Those varieties are 'Kumasaka,' 'Betty Sette,' 'Mrs. Charles Cobb,' 'Kramer Supreme,' 'Shiro Chan' and 'Jean May.' A total of 398,000 potential host plants have been put on hold at Monrovia's Azusa facility and at Specialty Plants Inc., he said. Other host plants grown at the Azusa facility are Rhododendron, Arbutus, Syringa, Viburnum opulus and V. tinus . Monrovia does not grow oaks at this facility.  Here is full listing:

* Additional Host Information  *

Researchers have been working in their laboratories to see what plants might be possible hosts, should this pest spread into new areas. Below is a list of possible hosts, based on the research available at this time which shows their susceptibility:

All infected plants will be destroyed
All plants infected with P. ramorum have been isolated and are on hold at Monrovia's Azusa, Calif., facility and at Specialty Plants Inc., Knighten said. However, all infected material will eventually be destroyed. As a preventative measure, Monrovia has halted all camellia shipments from its 6 growing facilities until these plants can be tested, said Monrovia spokesperson Judy Lynes. Monrovia also produces plants in Visalia, Calif., Dayton, Ore., Springfield, Ohio, LaGrange, N.C., and Cairo, Ga.

Southern SOD infestation surprises officials
The discovery of the SOD pathogen at Southern California nurseries surprised the CDFA. The disease had previously been found only in Northern California and extreme Southwest Oregon. It's unknown how the pathogen arrived at the nurseries, which are not near any known infected area. The nurseries are in dry climates, and the organism had been confirmed only in wetter areas in the past. Phytophthora ramorum has caused the death of thousands of oak trees in California and Oregon, primarily in California's Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Mateo and Monterey counties, according to San Jose Mercury News.

Sources: Claude R. Knighten, Judy Lynes , CDFA; Ga. Dept of Ag.; Fla. Dept of Ag. and Consumer Services; Miss. Dept. of Ag. and Commerce; Wash. State Dept. of Ag.

Monrovia free to ship from Visalia location
Monrovia Growers received notification last week from Calif. Dept. of Food & Ag. that all samples collected at the company's Visalia, Calif., nursery on March 22 tested negative for Phytophthora ramorum , known to cause sudden oak death. The Visalia nursery testing was conducted as part of CDFA's statewide survey. Monrovia was notified that several camellia varieties grown at its Azusa, Calif., nursery tested positive for P. ramorum . As a result, testing was done at its Visalia, Calif., nursery. "These findings should make the eradication efforts of the fungus in Azusa much easier as it appears that it is confined to this location," said CEO Richard VanLandingham. USDA issued a compliance agreement to the Visalia nursery, which allows interstate shipment of SOD-regulated host and associated host plants. As an added precaution, camellias at the Visalia nursery will remain on hold while the nursery conducts several months of retesting.

Calif. lawmakers protest plant ban
30 California lawmakers sent a letter to Ag. Secretary Ann Veneman last week asking her to stop other states from imposing unreasonable bans on imports of California plants over fears of sudden oak death. At least 4 states -- Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana and West Virginia -- have banned all imports of California plants, even those that cannot spread the disease. "You now must exercise the authority Congress gave the USDA in the Plant Protection Act to ensure that USDA’s scientifically established (sudden oak death) protocol is respected by all states," the letter says. "You must also prevent states from using the threat of SOD as an excuse to restrict the ability of California growers who have complied with the USDA's regulations to make a living." The letter was signed by California's 2 senators and 28 House members, Democrats and Republicans.

More fallout from SOD
As of April 8, 15 states and Canada had restricted the entry of plants from California because of concerns that P. ramorum could be spread from the state's nurseries, SAF reports. In a joint letter from SAF and ANLA, the 2 associations urged USDA Secretary Ann Veneman to end individual state quarantines prohibiting shipment of California plants. While most states are restricting shipment of host or associated host material, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana and West Virginia are refusing entry of all California plant material.

CANGC collecting funds to fight SOD effects
Calif. Assoc. of Nurseries and Garden Centers launched an emergency drive for funds to fight negative effects of the discovery of the sudden oak death pathogen at 2 Southern California nurseries. "Our spring is at risk. The time to act is now," wrote Don Dillon Jr., chairman of the board, and Dave Fujino, exec. grower member director, in a plea to members and supporters last week. "We urgently need your financial support right away to keep this from occurring. Please contribute what you can. Every dollar will be spent directly on this effort to keep California nursery stock moving and to get the public the truth about this disease. Just today an article in the San Francisco Chronicle highlights the find of Phytophthora ramorum on wild roses. The article wrongly vilifies all roses as possible carriers of sudden oak death. We need your help on the many fronts to fight this assault on our industry." CANGC, 916.567.0505.

200,000 infected at Monrovia, 1 at Specialty Plants Inc.
Only one plant -- a camellia that originated from Monrovia Growers in Azusa, Calif.-- tested positive for P. ramorum at Specialty Plants Inc. in San Marcos, Calif., said Paul Stevens, president of Specialty Plants Inc., in a phone interview. Specialty Plants Inc. sells bonsai direct to consumers nationwide. State officials contacted people who have received host material from the company since Christmas and ordered them to destroy the plants. Specialty Plants Inc. must pay for replacements. Monrovia, the only other nursery confirmed positive for the disease in a Southern California survey, has destroyed more than 200,000 infected plants, valued at $4.3 million, according to USDA. Specialty Plants Inc., (760) 744-6520.

Keeping track of SOD
If you're interested in finding out what is happening with sudden oak death (caused by the pathogen Phytophthora ramorum ), Calif. Dept. of Food and Ag. is working to stay on top of the situation. The CDFA Web site has posted SOD restrictions for various states along with the affected plants (59 total), shipping information and agency contacts. During March and April, CDFA has been conducting a statewide survey to determine where SOD is present in California nurseries.

SOD pathogen found at garden centers
Retailers are starting to feel the effects of this month's identification of the sudden oak death pathogen at several Southern California wholesale nurseries, including Monrovia Growers. Michael Bracken, whose family owns Nicholson-Hardie in Dallas, told us USDA officials were in his garden center and detected one Syringa plant that showed symptoms of Phytophthora ramorum , the agent that causes SOD. That plant had been shipped from Monrovia's Azusa, Calif., nursery. "Although it didn’t impact us directly, it is going to be a huge problem overall," Bracken said. "This is going to be an interesting spring."

More states ban California plants
Louisiana joined Florida in banning all shipments of nursery plants from California due to the discovery of the sudden oak death pathogen at multiple Southern California nurseries. After four days of banning all California plants, Georgia eased its quarantine and now bans only hosts and associated plants. Other states that have banned plants regulated for SOD from California: Alabama, Delaware, Mississippi, Tennessee, West Virginia and Utah. Utah's ban also includes host plants from Oregon, Washington and British Columbia, Canada. Some states plan to end quarantines once Calif. Dept. of Food and Ag. releases the names of 10 nurseries suspected to be infected with SOD. Others plan to keep the bans in place until California SOD quarantine areas are re-established to reflect the new SOD discoveries.

7 nurseries confirmed negative for SOD
Calif. Dept. of Food and Ag. is still waiting for test results to confirm the presence of Phytophthora ramorum (the sudden oak death pathogen) at four suspect nurseries in Los Angeles, San Diego and Orange counties. However, results from seven suspect nurseries came back negative, according to ANLA. SOD sampling that began in February confirmed the disease at Monrovia Growers in Azusa, Calif., and Specialty Plants Inc. in San Marcos, Calif. Sampling of nurseries in the northern half of the state was scheduled to begin last week.

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