Fungus causing sudden oak death distributed across US?

The San Francisco Chronicle has reported that spores of Phytophthora ramorum, the fungus that causes sudden oak death, have been discovered at Monrovia Nursery, the largest nursery in California. Monrovia was investigated after being traced as the source of infected camellias distributed to a small Washington state nursery.

Out of state shipments of camellias made by Monrovia to locations across the United States and Canada have the potential to carry the disease and infect local populations of native oak forest, particularly in the southeastern US where many of the nursery's plants are shipped. Hundreds of nurseries that have received plants from Monrovia will now require inspections according to the US Forest Service, and it is likely that thousands of plants will have to be destroyed.

First discovered in Califonia's central coast in 1995 the fungus has killed tens of thousands of oak trees in the state. The pathogen also infects other plants including rhododendron, huckleberry and big leaf maple.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a press release to distributors of Monrovia Nursery camellias, as follows:

“Any grower purchasing camellias through a supplier or directly from MONROVIA NURSERIES in California is directed to quarantine camellias immediately.

Sudden Oak Death (SOD) (Phytophthera ramorum) has been found in Monrovia's California Nursery.

If you have received Camellias from Monrovia, California in the last six months, and are in British Columbia:

a) Isolate your camellias, keeping them 10 meters or more from all other nursery stock
b) Keep them watered and healthy - they are most likely fine
c) CFIA will call to test your plants; if you have not been contacted by Wed March 17th, call Ken Wong, CFIA at the number below

If you purchased Camellias from another supplier, and are in British Columbia:

a) isolate your camellias, keeping them 10 meters or more from all other nursery stock
b) contact your nursery supplier to determine the origin of the stock

a) if they are not from Monrovia in California you can resume sales
b) if they are from Monrovia in California, wait for CFIA to contact you.

If you have not been contacted by Wed March 17th, call Ken Wong, CFIA at the number below.

Your cooperation can STOP this destructive pest!”

Contact Details:
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Ken Wong, District Plant Protection Officer
Phone: 604-666-0974

Links:
Nursery reports oak diseaseinfested plants have been sold out of state - scientists shocked - from the San Francisco Chronicle
Oak disease in L.A. County plant nursery from The Mercury News (registration required)
California Oak Mortality Task Force - an excellent resource

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 3:13 PM on March 12, 2004

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