Country: United States

Title: Phytophthora ramorum (sudden oak death, ramorum blight, ramorum die-back); Expansion of Regulated Host Plants

Contact:
Not available

Report:

On February 14, 2002, APHIS published an interim rule in the Federal Register for Phytophthora ramorum (7 CFR 301.92). This rule restricts the movement of certain restricted and regulated articles to prevent the artificial spread interstate of this disease-causing organism from areas where the disease is established. We have now learned that certain plants require regulating in order to control the artificial spread of this disease. The purpose of this is to provide notification that APHIS is listing the genus Camellia as regulated host plants. 

The below listed Camellias were found in nurseries during APHIS survey activities. All were confirmed positive by APHIS for P. ramorum by APHIS either by PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) and/or by morphological identification of a culture. 

These seven species of Camellia: 
• Camellia hiemalis
• Camellia kissi
• Camellia lutchuensis 
• Camellia oleifera 
• Camellia saluenensis 
• Camellia sinensis
• Camellia vernalis 

These eighteen hybrids of Camellia:
• Camellia japonica x Camellia lutchuensis 
• Camellia japonica x Camellia oleifera 
• Camellia japonica x Camellia sasanqua 
• Camellia lutchuensis x Camellia japonica 
• Camellia oleifera x Camellia hiemalis 
• Camellia oleifera x Camellia hiemalis x Camellia vernalis 
• Camellia pitardii var. pitardii x Camellia japonica
• Camellia reticulata x Camellia japonica 
• Camellia reticulata x Camellia saluenensis x Camellia pitardii var. yunnanica
• Camellia sasanqua x Camellia oleifera 
• Camellia sasanqua x Camellia hiemalis x Camellia oleifera 
• Camellia x japonica 
• Camellia x kissi
• Camellia x lutchuenis 
• Camellia x oleifera 
• Camellia x reticulata 
• Camellia x saluenensis 
• Camellia x williamsii x C. oleifera 

Including the three species and one hybrid already under regulation, PPQ has found 10 species and 19 hybrids of Camellia that P. ramorum infects. To ensure appropriate and effective inspection in quarantine areas and regulated nurseries and to mitigate the risk of spread of P. ramorum, we will now regulate Camellia at the genus level. This will be added to the “APHIS List of Host and Associated Plants” as a “host plant.” 

Therefore, effective immediately, the following is a regulated article under 7 CFR 301.92 and PPQ orders restricting the movement of nursery stock to prevent the spread of P. ramorum:
• Camellia spp. (Camellia, includes all species, hybrids and cultivars)

This action is authorized under the Plant Protection Act, as amended, Section 412(a), which authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to prohibit or restrict the movement in interstate commerce of any plant, plant part, or article, if the Secretary determines the prohibition or restriction is necessary to prevent the dissemination of a plant pest within the United States. 

This action is also authorized by 7 CFR 301.92-2(b)(2) which designates as restricted articles any other product or article that an inspector determines to present a risk of spreading P. ramorum. This designation requires the inspector to notify the person in possession of the product or article that it is a regulated article.

In accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Procedures Act, this action will be published as a regulatory update in the Federal Register for public comment. 

Posted Date: June 23, 2004, 9 a.m.