Sep 29, 2006

Chrysanthemum White Rust Found In PennsylvaniaSource: North American Plant Protection Organization

On Sept. 15, a Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture inspector detected Chrysanthemum White Rust (CWR) on seven potted chrysanthemums during a routine Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS). The plants were part of a lot of 302 chrysanthemums at a large national retailer in Pittsburgh.

The detection was confirmed by USDA’s Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ). CWR is caused by the obligate fungus Puccinia horiana.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has issued a stop sale order and PPQ issued an Emergency Action Notification to prevent the sale of infected plants.

According to the North American Plant Protection Organization, the infected plants originated at a farming operation in Lehigh County, Pa. CWR was discovered there in a single block at one end of a 10-acre field.

The National CWR Management Plan for Exclusion and Eradication has been activated. This includes the destruction of the infected plants and those within 1 meter, spraying the remaining plants three times with an approved systemic fungicide and monitoring the remaining plants for symptoms.

Additional information on CWR is available at www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/ispm/cwr/index.html.