In July 2016 I blogged about the risk that native plant nurseries in California might spread various Phytophthoras to natural areas through use of infected plants used in restoration plantings.
In response to this threat, the California Oak Mortality Task Force has formed a Phytophthoras in Native Habitats Work Group to protect wildlands and assist the restoration industry in adopting practices to ensure they are producing “clean” plants.
The California Native Plant society (CNPS) adopted a policy to promote propagation practices that help prevent plant diseases. CNPS also established its own Ad Hoc Committee on Phytophthoras to address the same threat.
Numerous resources, including guidelines for nursery management, restoration plantings, summaries of committee meetings, photographs, etc., are posted at this website.
As I described in the July 2016 blog, Phytophthora pathogens have been detected in nurseries in other states, including Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oregon, and Tennessee. Doubtless nurseries in additional states also harbor damaging pathogens.
I’m not aware of action by regulatory officials, nursery owners, or conservation practitioners in these other states to evaluate and address this threat? Are you?
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Posted by Faith Campbell