Indianapolis, IN - July 25-29, 2010

1. Phytophthora ramorum Working Group Update Gray Haun, NPB and Prakash Hebbar, APHIS-PPQ Indianapolis, IN - July 25-29, 2010

2. Vision Statement The program will take a proactive approach to protect native biodiversity, wild lands and managed landscapes from P. ramorum through a system of voluntary and mandatory (best management practices) approaches focused on critical control points Phytophthora ramorum National Program Review

3. Reviewing and revising regulatory protocols to take into account CCPs, high-risk plants, as well as soil and water positives. Conducting in-depth analysis of port-of-entry data and revising the current Q37 protocols. Conducting a national nursery survey for P. ramorum in 2010 as funded by Farm Bill (Section 10201). Developing clear guidelines (triggers) for regulation/deregulation. Regulatory Action Items

4. Co-chairs – Gray Haun and Prakash Hebbar Lists tasks, Outline Implementation Strategy, Success Measures, Resources Needed, Time Lines Sub-teams and chairs: Q37 – Shashank Nilakhe (TX); Matthew Travis (PPQ) High Risk Plants – Kathleen Kosta (CA); Carolyn Pizzo (PPQ) Nursery Field Teams – Jan Hedberg (OR); Steven Whitesides Critical Control Points/ Best Management Practices – Carol Holko (MD); Catherine Marzolf (PPQ) Protocols – Victoria Smith (CT); Stacy Scott (PPQ) Triggers – Gary Gibson (WV); Steven Miller (PPQ) Regulatory Survey – Dennis Barclift (AL); Anthony Man-Son-Hing (PPQ) The sub-groups had 18 calls (May 20 – July 21) and meetings in total Brief outlines from sub team leaders and Next Steps Regulatory Working Groups

5. Objective: Implement measures to eliminate or reduce artificial introduction of P. ramorum into United States Evaluate Q37 program for P. ramorum host plant imports Issues covered: Identify high risk countries, NL? UK? China?; Imports from Canada, data analysis, tracking plant movement, testing plants at POE, monitoring production practices In-depth analysis of ports of entry (POE) data and determine risk Compiled and evaluated P. ramorum host plant import data for top 5 hosts. Volume lower than previously estimated. Peak months of imports March-June Shipments in East : Miami>JFK>Orlando>Atlanta>Linden Shipments in West : Seattle>Hawaii>Los Angeles>Louisiana Improve tracking host plant movement, from POE to destination Use of bar codes to track nursery plants is in the planning phase (CPHST). Better use of #264 data by States. Q37 Co-chairs: Shashank Nilakhe (TX); Matthew Travis (PPQ)

6. Objective: Implement measures to eliminate or reduce artificial introduction of P. ramorum into United States Monitoring production practices in origins Steps are considered for reviewing production practices and certification procedure used by nurseries shipping to U.S. Screening of plant imports /rapid diagnostics Post-entry inspection of plants cleared by PISs is under consideration. A pilot project for rapid diagnostic P. ramorum at 2 inspection stations is in the planning phase. Need input from CPHST/Molecular Diagnostics Lab on test kits. Review regulations and suggest improvements : Post –entry quarantine vs. Certification Q37 Co-chairs: Shashank Nilakhe (TX); Matthew Travis (PPQ)

7. Objective: Analyze data on P. ramorum detections and associated host plants In-depth analysis of data on hosts and P. ramorum detections Western Region data gathered, pending data from eastern region Review data spring and fall Completed by Fall 2010 Develop Criteria for determining high-risk plants Review Literature (Camellia, Rhododendron, Viburnum, Kalmia, Peiris still top 5) Determine Risks: Rank nursery in terms of shipping volume, size/age of plant, host plant susceptibility, containerized vs. bare roots Data request from nursery industry Provide recommendations on “high risk plants” to improve existing protocols and regulatory framework Random sampling of asymptomatic plants (ELISA/PCR), e.g. ELISA tests in WA to determine vulnerability of nurseries to P. ramorum Soil testing for containers with Camellias as infected leaves tend to drop Stricter control of Fungicides masking disease symptoms High Risk Plants Co-chairs: Kathleen Kosta (CA); Carolyn Pizzo (PPQ)

8. Objective: Pilot role of nursery assessment teams as first responders Define Role and Scope of Nursery Field Teams – Certification, delimitation, recommending BMPs, Education, Determine CCPs and encourage BMPs for first time positive nurseries, repeat nurseries required to identify CCPs and implement BMPs Use of mobile labs for processing high volume delimitation surveys, efficacy needs evaluation. Review Current Soil/water Mitigation Methods – Pre-irrigation treatment and treatment of water run-off needed – nursery specific (chemical or biological) Faster, reliable and standardized soil/water assay methods needed Nursery Field TeamsCo-chairs: Jan Hedberg (OR); Steven Whitesides

9. Objective: Pilot role of nursery assessment teams as first responders Recommend mitigation methods for water runoffs – Water holding ponds for nurseries (e.g. In OR nurseries >5 a required to have a collection pond) Provide feed-back to NORS-DUC on applied research – Quality control assessment of ELISA, PCR detection kits, water treatment methods Training personnel in detection methods Assess risks to wild lands from positive nurseries - containment strategy needed Nursery Field TeamsCo-chairs: Jan Hedberg (OR); Steven Whitesides

10. Objective: Define, assess, and rank CCPs and BMPs for consideration in developing regulatory protocols and defining applied research needs (NORS-DUC). Accomplishments: Defined CCP – “the point where a control measure can be used to prevent or eliminate a plant health hazard or to reduce it to an acceptable level” Defined BMPs – “a set of phytosanitary standards applied at CCPs in order to address the biosecurity or safeguarding hazard and enhance plant quality.” Identified 6 CCPs – Plants, Pots, Media, Water, Substrate, Conveyance Created menu of BMP options available to address each CCP A flexible nursery plan developed with state/federal officials is recommended as a useful tool for implementation of the BMPs Identified research needs Critical Control Points (CCP)/ Best Management Practices (BMP): Carol Holko (MD); Catherine Marzolf (PPQ)

11. Objective: Tailor and revise regulatory protocols to apply BMPs Review feasibility of application of BMPs in conjunction with CCPs as a part of Confirmed and Retail Nursery protocols - Once the CCPs/BMPs Working group gets a good draft, and after a thorough vetting process, incorporate into the CNPs and appendices. - Our working group has drafted a “first time” and “repeat” nursery course of action Tailor and revise regulatory options and protocols in conjunction with BMPs/CCP - Interesting questions that have surfaced on how to best incorporate BMPs/CCP into protocols and regulations: - The working group is querying states on how they require actions, such as BMPs: compliance agreement versus EANs. - How do states register big landscapers that hold stock (are landscapers who maintain a holding lot of wholesale plants)? It seems they are out of the regulatory loop - The working group is canvassing states on this question Protocols: Victoria Smith (CT); Stacy Scott (PPQ)

12. Provide suggestions to improve P. ramorumregulations to incorporate BMPs We are reviewing language in CNP 8.0 versus 8.1 to get the best information and clarity forward into a new version. Review and revise Confirmed and Retail Nursery protocols (e.g update, flow charts, check lists, user friendly options), especially to reflect the Prenotification Federal Order Review CNP terminology and bring clarity and consistency in terms between the CNPs and the Regulations. (see “lot” versus “block”) Protocols: Victoria Smith (CT); Stacy Scott (PPQ)

13. Objective: Develop clear guidelines (triggers) for regulation and de-regulation Define what constitutes triggers for Pram in nurseries and wild lands Water (stream) positives are not triggers – trigger further surveys Disease in the natural environment (on plants) and not linked to a nursery Pathogen should be cultured repeatedly prior to quarantine designation Review and validate triggers for designating a county as quarantined for P. ramorum Disease in the natural environment should be cultured repeatedly prior to quarantine designation Initial county level quarantine in place until delimitation survey is complete Triggers: Gary Gibson (WV); Steven Miller (PPQ)

14. Objective: Develop clear guidelines (triggers) for regulation and de-regulation Review and validate triggers for designating a county as regulated for P. ramorum Regulation based on nursery positives alone should be applied equally across the country Removal of currently regulated areas favored to adding new areas under regulation based on only nursery positives Determine if there are appropriate triggers to release areas/counties from regulation in areas where the pathogen is established Undertake OR (Curry County) model for limiting the spread/eradication Followed by at least 3 years of negative surveys before being released Triggers: Gary Gibson (WV); Steven Miller (PPQ)

15. Definition of a regulatory survey Stand alone Survey; Enhanced Survey; Sampling/Testing; What to collect, When and under what conditions Use of modern technologies Foliar Growing Media Water Substrate Regulatory Surveys: Dennis Barclift (AL); Anthony Man-Son-Hing (PPQ)

16. Regulatory Surveys: • At this time, data is all over the chart. • There is no corelation between positives among the sampling populations. • We need this fall’s data with 2011 data to draw significant conclusions. • Proposed one-time survey information sheet (electronic?)

17. August-October 2010: Share output with the Nursery Practices Coordination group and the Research Coordination Group, joint discussions on action items, measures, timelines and resources. October 2010: Regulatory Sub-groups will meet, discussions with NPB December 2010: Outputs from all the working groups compiled, reviewed, and published. Jan - March 2011 joint review of work plans, time lines with Nursery Practices, Regulatory and Research Coordination Groups Jan 2011 onwards: Implementation of (short-term) recommendations in consultation with the stake holders. E.g. changes to protocols. March 2011 onwards: Implementation of long-term recommendations e.g. scaling up of need-based BMPs through GAIP, US NCP, Industry initiatives; Initiate regulatory work plans, public comments, changes. Next Steps/Time lines

18. Acknowledgements National Plant Board State Plant Regulatory Officers Nursery Industry – ANLA-HRI-Associations USDA-ARS USDA-FS USDA-NIFA National IPM Center Universities: Davis, OSU, Berkeley, Clemson, Washington State, NORS-DOC, California Oak Mortality Task Force TNC National Plant Diagnostics Network CPHST APHIS-PPQ Western / Eastern Regions State Plant Health Directors APHIS-PPQ: Plant Health Programs