Steaming Inactivates Phytophthora ramorum, Causal Agent of Sudden Oak Death and Ramorum Blight, from Infested Nursery Soils in California

Authors

Wolfgang Schweigkofler, Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Dominican University of CaliforniaFollow
Kathleen Kosta, California Department of Food and Agriculture
Vernon Huffman, Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Dominican University of CaliforniaFollow
Supriya Sharma, Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Dominican University of California
Karen Suslow, Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Dominican University of CaliforniaFollow
Sibdas Ghosh, Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Dominican University of CaliforniaFollow

Document Type

Article

Source

Plant Health Progress

ISSN

1535-1025

Volume

15

Issue

1

First Page

43

Last Page

47

Publication Date

3-13-2014

Department

Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Abstract

Nursery trade plays a major role in the long-distance spread of Phytophthora ramorum, the causal agent of Sudden Oak Death (SOD) and ramorum blight of ornamental plants. Under federal regulations, nurseries found positive for P. ramorum must destroy infected plants and treat infested soils. The use of steam is an effective method to thermally inactivate P. ramorum from nursery soils as demonstrated at the National Ornamental Research Site at Dominican University (NORS-DUC) and one commercial nursery in the Central Valley of California. Heating up the top soil layer (0-30 cm) to 50°C for 120 minutes resulted in complete thermal inactivation of P. ramorum. Consequently, the commercial nursery was released from federal quarantine. Steaming can be a fast, reliable and sustainable option for treating nursery soils.

Rights

Copyright © 2014 The American Phytopathological Society. All rights reserved.