Adapted from USDA National PRED Program for WSU Extension<\/p>\n
Objective:<\/strong> To provide training on how to recognize symptoms potentially caused by Phytophthora ramorum <\/em>and how to screen samples to determine if they should be submitted to the WSU Puyallup Plant and Insect Diagnostic Laboratory for P. ramorum <\/em>testing.<\/p>\n Background:<\/strong> Sudden Oak Death (SOD) and Ramorum Blight are plant diseases caused by the fungal-like organism P. ramorum<\/em>. This USDA-APHIS regulated pathogen was first identified in 2000 after killing thousands of tan oaks in California and causing a leaf blight on rhododendrons in Europe. Since then it has been found to infect many plants common to Washington\u2019s natural and ornamental landscapes, including rhododendron, viburnum, big leaf maple, madrone, grand fir, and Douglas-fir. P. ramorum<\/em> has spread to the natural landscape in 14 coastal counties in California, and one county in southwestern Oregon. Since 2003 this pathogen has been detected in western Washington nurseries and was first detected in a stream in 2006. The Washington State Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture, is monitoring Washington\u2019s nurseries and implementing eradication efforts to keep this pathogen from spreading to the natural environment or landscapes. This program has been designed to train Master Gardeners and WSU Extension affiliates as first detectors of P. ramorum<\/em>, in the event that this organism is introduced into Washington\u2019s landscape. Information provided will also be applicable to diagnosis and detection of other plant pathogens.<\/p>\n Program outline <\/strong><\/p>\n 1) Background and history of P. ramorum <\/em><\/p>\n 2) Current status of P. ramorum <\/em>in Washington<\/p>\n 3) Introduction to WSU Sudden Oak Death Education program<\/p>\n 4) Recognizing potential symptoms and determining if samples should be submitted for P. ramorum <\/em>testing<\/p>\n Funding for this outreach has been provided by the USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region, Forest Health Protection<\/p>\n For information, please contact:<\/p>\n Marianne Elliott<\/strong>
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\nPuyallup Research and Extension Center
\n2606 W. Pioneer
\nPuyallup, WA 98371-4998
\n253-445-4596
\nmelliott2@wsu.edu<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n