Official Pest Report

Official Pest Reports are provided by National Plant Protection Organizations within the NAPPO region. These Pest Reports are intended to comply with the International Plant Protection Convention's Standard on Pest Reporting, endorsed by the Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures in March 2002.

APHIS Classifies the Potato Blackleg Pathogen, Dickeya dianthicola

Country: United States

Title: APHIS Classifies the Potato Blackleg Pathogen, Dickeya dianthicola

Contact:
Lynn Evans-Goldner, National Policy Manager at (301) 851-2286.

Report:

Effective May 17, 2016, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) classified the potato blackleg pathogen Dickeya dianthicola as a non-reportable/non-actionable pathogen. APHIS’ decision to classify D. dianthicola is based on the results of recent confirmatory diagnostic testing and historic reports in the literature of D. dianthicola detections that show the pathogen is likely established in the United States.

If D. dianthicola is detected at a port of entry, no action will be taken. Should D. dianthicola be detected in the United States, APHIS will not conduct survey, regulatory, or control activities. APHIS will continue to confirm the identification of first-time reports of D. dianthicola samples from states that have not already submitted samples to PPQ. In addition, APHIS is committed to coordinating with the potato industry, states, and research community to implement best management practices to effectively manage the disease. Seed potato certification agencies are encouraged to implement certification requirements for D. dianthicola as part of their overall best management practices. Information on best management practices can be found at:

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/potato/downloads/blackleg-%20prevention-control.pdf

At this time, there is no indication that another potato blackleg pathogen, D. solani, is present in the United States. APHIS will establish a Dickeya technical working group to assess risk, import, and domestic issues regarding D. solani.

Under IPPC Standards, Dickeya dianthicola is considered to be a pest that is present: but managed in the United States.


 

Posted Date: July 8, 2016, 9 a.m.