(TRENTON) – New Jersey Agriculture Secretary
Charles M. Kuperus today announced the first detection
of Phytophthora ramorum -- commonly known as “Sudden
Oak Death” -- in New Jersey. One lilac bush at
a Cape May County nursery tested positive for the disease,
out of more than 2,100 plants tested in 13 counties.
The finding was part a statewide surveillance program
for the disease since mid-March by the Department of
Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Animal Plant Health Inspection Service and Rutgers
Cooperative Extension.
Phytophthora ramorum is a serious fungal pathogen that affects certain
trees and shrubs, such as oak and bonsai trees, lilacs, rhododendrons,
and azaleas. In California since 1995, the fungus has killed tens of
thousands of tanoaks, coast live oaks and California black oaks. Most
plants experience leaf spots or twig dieback, but red and black oak trees
are particularly susceptible under laboratory conditions.
“We are concerned about the potential impact
of this disease in New Jersey’s forests and
landscapes since it is unknown how the disease would
develop on the east coast,” said Secretary
Kuperus. “We are following the USDA protocol
in following up on the detection to ensure the disease
does not spread.”
Sudden Oak Death became a concern in New Jersey
when it was learned that large wholesale and mail
order nurseries in California infected with the disease
had shipped suspect plants to the state in 2003.
Fact sheets were mailed to New Jersey residents who
received potentially infected plant material from
the mail order nursery in California, along with
information on steps homeowners should take to dispose
of dead plant material. The Department also mailed
advisory letters containing a U.S. Forest Service
color fact sheet on Sudden Oak Death to nearly 1,900
nurseries and garden centers throughout the state
to alert nursery owners to the symptoms of Sudden
Oak Death.
“Consumers should continue their normal spring planting of trees, shrubs,
annuals and perennials,” said Secretary Kuperus. “Only one out of
40 samples taken at the affected nursery tested positive for the disease. The
Department is working with USDA, Rutgers, and the nursery industry and will continue
our statewide surveillance.”
The Cape May County nursery where the infected lilac bush was discovered
had received six plants fromt he California lot. However, those six plants
had long been sold before New Jersey's testing program began.
All susceptible host plants at the Cape May County nursery have been
pulled off the market until they can be tested further. Plants in the
lot where the diseased lilac was found will be destroyed. Other plants
tested in the lot came back negative for P. ramorum. Plants inside the
nursery, as well as the perimeter area outside of the nursery will be
tested.
For more information, residents can contact their local county agricultural
agent, or the state Department of Agriculture at (609) 292-8896. They
also may visit the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Website at http://www.rce.rutgers.edu/sod or
the USDA Website at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/ispm/sod/. |