North American Plant Protection Organization 2012 report to RPPO – TC on emerging pests

1. North American Plant Protection Organization 2012 report to RPPO – TC on emerging pests Ian McDonell NAPPO Executive Director

2. Current and emerging major pest issues • Tuta absoluta: NAPPO survey protocol • Huanglongbing • Boxwood blight (Cylindrocladium pseudonaviculatum) Others • Fruit:Lobesia botrana, Drosophila suzukii (discussion papers for prevention) • Assessment of risks associated with importation of bee pollen and royal jelly diverted from its intended use as a health food product

3. Tuta absoluta • Originated in South America • Significant pest of tomato • Also pest of other solanaceous crops such as potato and eggplant • Attacks all aerial parts of the host • Can be spread by seedlings, infested vines with tomato fruit, tomato fruit and used containers • Economic impact: • increase in the cost of tomato production (additional costs for crop protection) • yield loss (lower marketable production) • and because it is very challenging to control the pest and limit its spread. http://www.tutaabsoluta.com/uploads/files/tutaabsoluta_profile-01-10-2009.pdf

4. Damage caused by Tuta absoluta

5. DISTRIBUTION • Europe: Albania, France, Greece, Germany, Italy Bulgaria, Malta, Portugal, England, the Netherlands, Switzerland and United Kingdom. • Northern Africa: Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia • Asia: Bahrain and Kuwait • South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Chile,Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela • Recently found in: Turkey, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Lithuania, Palestine, Panama, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Syria, ...

6. Surveillance protocol for the tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta,for NAPPO member countries • Currently under country consultation (Sept 11) • Developed jointly with OIRSA • Objective: the survey should allow for the early detection, delimitation and management of Tuta absoluta in the North American (Mexico, USA, Canada) region. • Includes methodologies for detection and delimiting surveys, in particular trapping, as well as suggested phytosanitary measures upon detection

7. Huanglongbing • Common name: “Yellow shoot disease”, previously called “greening” • gram negative, phloem-limited bacterium • Has not been isolated and Koch’s postulates have not been fulfilled, so is “Candidatus” Liberibacter spp. • Three strains: • Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus • Candidatus Liberibacter africanus • Candidatus Liberibacter americanus sp nov • Vector: Asian Citrus Psyllid (Diaphorina citri ) + up to 6 months latency before symptoms appear From Bové, 2011

8. HLB in Reunion island From Bové, 2011

9. NAPPO DIAGNOSTIC PROTOCOLDP 02: Citrus Huanglongbing • Currently under country consultation (Sept 6) • IPPC format for diagnostic protocols used • Includes: • Description of pest • Detection • Identification • molecular diagnostics – PCR and PCR-RT/qPCR, approving APHIS protocols • Biological indexing • Sampling of plant material • Records

10. Other activities on HLB OIRSA attended the NAPPO Citrus Panel Meeting • shared information on FAO funded regional project (training, lab diagnostics, disease management, certified plant material, harmonized legislation among OIRSA countries) • Work initiated on an area-wide management protocol

11. Boxwood Blight: Situation Overview Host genera Pachysandra sp. (Photo: timoilves.planet.ee) Buxus sp. (photo: redfire.co.nz) Sarcococca sp.(Sweetbox)(photo: Wikipedia)

12. Boxwood Blight: Situation Overview(cont.) Positive discoveries in U.S. (also present in BC and ON, Canada) Infected Buxus CT MA MD RI • Pathogen • Cylindrocladium pseudonaviculatum • = Calonectria pseudonaviculata • = Cylindrocladium buxicola Photo credit: Dr. Sharon Douglas, CAES • Epidemiology • Spores dispersal mostly through rain splash • Fungus produces microsclerotia • 2 strains are known in Europe - only 1 in U.S. • Symptoms • Leaf and stem lesions • Leaf drop and stem dieback Acknowledgements: Joseph Bischoff, ANLA, 2012

13. Boxwood Blight: Strategy Regulatory • Action still taken at U.S . port of entry • USDA-APHIS is evaluating quarantine and action status • Some states are performing eradication measures • NPB developed voluntary compliance agreement for boxwood growers Industry and Researcher Collaboration Industry • Farm Bill Funded Research ($550K) • Rapid diagnostics • Epidemiology • Fungicide trials • Cultural practices • Floriculture & Nursery Research Initiative • Field deployable rapid diagnostics tools • Breeding for Boxwood Blight resistance • Established working group • Developed voluntary BMPs • Identified research agenda • Help coordinate researcher group • Launched info sharing website • www.boxwoodblight.org Acknowledgements: Joseph Bischoff, ANLA, 2012

14. Lobesia botrana (European grapevine moth) Draft proposal to manage the risk of introduction Recommendations for emergency actions in case of an outbreak trapping systems treatments Drosophila suzukii (Spotted wing Drosophila) Compiling information on hosts, IPM measures, postharvest measures, fruit sampling, monitoring, distribution, biology and ecology Determine potential for spread Fruit Pests UC-IPM Online) Bing.com/images

15. Assessment of risks associated with importation of bee pollen and royal jelly diverted from its intended use as a health food product • Draft paper elaborated: interceptions of diverted products, summary of country regulations, risk for pollen carrying viruses and bees carrying American foulbrood; discussion on treatments –not efficient • Jurisdictional challenges: Animal Health vs. Plant Health departments – possible new Bee Panel

16. QUESTIONS?