NPDN News Volume 2 Issue 9, September 2007

Proposed Changes kernoviae which is similar to P. National to the Select Agent ramorum but more aggressive. and Toxin List •The addition of Rathayibacter Updates toxicus, the causative agent of gumming of ryegrass. On August 28, 2007, USDA-APHIS issued These proposed changes are open for a public notice concerning proposed comment through October 29, 2007. changes to the select agent and toxin list. The complete Federal Register posting Specific proposed changes and additions as well as instructions on how to make to the select agent and toxin list that comments can be accessed at http://www. pertains to plant pathogens include: regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/ •The removal main. of Candidatus Liberobacter asiaticus, the causative agent of Issue Highlights: citrus greening. ♦ Proposed Changes to the •The regulation Select Agent and Toxin List of all pathovars ♦2007 National Soybean Rust of Xanthomonas Symposium Announcement oryzae, the ♦Recent Detections of Rice causative agent of Panicle Mite in the U.S. bacterial leaf streak. ♦ Diagnostic Tip of the Month: •The addition Diagnostic Uses for the of Candidatus Inverted Microscope Liberobacter ♦ Announcement for Symptoms of P. kernoviae infection americanus. This Mycotoxin Virtual Workshop on an azalea (Photo Paul Beales, pathogen is also Via Adobe Connect, November Central Science Laboratory, www. 6-8, 2007 forestryimages.org) a causative agent of citrus greening ♦4th Annual IT/Diagnostician’s disease but has Meeting Announcement only been reported in San Paulo State, with List of Regional Brazil. Representatives •The addition of Phoma glycinicola, ♦ Sirex Woodwasp Detected in the causative agent of red blotch of Vermont soybean. •The addition of Phytophthora

1 Volume 2 Issue 9 2007 National PRM is considered a serious rice pest National Soybean Rust and can cause substantial crop losses. Symposium To Be There are two main reported hosts of the Updates panicle rice mite, rice, Oryza sativa, and Held December 14- the weedy red rice, Oryza latifolia. . 16, Louisville, KY For more information on these detections, Now in its third consecutive year, APS is please visit on the web the following pleased to announce the 2007 National links: Soybean Rust Symposium. Detections of Panicle Rice Mite, The symposium will examine soybean Steneotarsonemus spinki, in Stuttgart, rust from virtually every angle. In Arkansas and Ithaca, New York – United addition to opportunities to network and States explore new areas of investigation, there will be presentations and discussions Detections of Panicle Rice Mite, on molecular biology and genetics, Steneotarsonemus spinki, in Rayne, development of disease resistant Acadia Parish, Louisiana - United States varieties, use of fungicides, disease management strategies and tactics, Detections of Panicle Rice Mite, computer simulations, experiences Steneotarsonemus spinki, in Lajas, Puerto and perceptions of producers and crop Rico consultants, and much more. For more information including program details Detections of Panicle Rice Mite, and registration, please visit the 2007 Steneotarsonemus spinki, in Brazoria National Soybean Rust Symposium web County, Texas - United States site.

Recent Detections of Panicle Rice Mite in Rice Research Facilities

Over the past three months there have been four detections of the Panicle Rice Mite (PRM) within the continental United States and one detection in a U.S. territory. These detections were made in rice research Rice, Oryza sativa L. One of the hosts for the Panicle Rice facilities in Texas (July Mite. (Photo David Nance, USDA-ARS, www.ipmimages. org) 13), Puerto Rico (August 1), Louisiana (August 20), Arkansas (September 7) and New York (September 14).

NPDN News 2 Diagnostic Tip of the Month: and if needed specific Diagnostic Uses for the areas of the cultures can be Diagnostic Tip Inverted Microscope marked for more detailed examination later on a Jan Byrne of the Month traditional Cassandra Bates compound Angie Tenney microscope. In some Michigan State cases scanning cultures University with the inverted scope is sufficient to make a An inverted microscope diagnosis, eliminating is a helpful tool that can the need to make a save diagnosticians time slide mount. Because when looking at both you don’t have to nematology extraction disturb the culture, it samples and fungal is also a nice way to cultures. An inverted capture great images of microscope has a light structures. source above the stage while the objectives are The inverted mounted on a nosepiece microscope is also below the stage (Figure Firgure 1. An inverted microscope helpful in evaluating 1). has a light source above the stage while the objectives are mounted on a nematology samples; it is an efficient way to The stage is large nosepiece below the stag. (Photo Jan Byrne, Michigan State University) count cyst nematode enough to easily hold a samples. The extracted petri dish. This design sample should be allows the diagnostician poured into a 60mm x 15mm Petri dish. to easily scan cultures/samples without There is an attachment that fits on the having to make a slide mount. A stage of the microscope and holds a 60 range of magnifications are available, mm Petri plate (Fig 2.). With the phase inverted microscopes in our lab have the contrast capability to magnify from 40x to 400x. on setting 3 and 40x Fungal cultures can be viewed without magnification, opening the petri dish. The culture is the reader placed on the stage and scanned for signs can readily of fungal growth. This is a great way to differentiate find fungal structures that may not be between cysts widely prevalent in the culture or that and white were formed only directly adjacent to the females. plant material. Figure 2. There is an attachment that fits on Continued on For example, it is really useful to detect the stage of the microscope and holds a 60 page 4... mm Petri plate. (Photo Jan Byrne, Michigan Phytophthora sp. in cultures from woody State Universtiy) plants where there is not a lot of fungal growth. Cultures can be quickly scanned

3 Volume 2 Issue 9 Continued from page 3... Please share this announcement with Diagnostic colleagues who might be interested. Vermiform nematodes Details on last year’s workshop and links Update can also be viewed to the recorded workshop are available at: and evaluated with the http://diagnostics.montana.edu/GPDN/ microscope. In this Mycotoxin/index.htm instance, use no phase contrast and the light at a comfortable intensity. To reserve a space in this upcoming E- This will allow you to count the workshop, please respond to ruhlg@ sample as if you were using a purdue.edu and you will be added to our dissecting microscope. In order to view contact list of registrants. morphological characteristics, change your magnification as you would when looking at any other sample. National Mycotoxin Virtual Workshop Database Via Adobe Connect, November 6-8, 2007 4th Annual IT/Diagnostician’s You are invited to participate in a Meeting virtual workshop on “Mycotoxins and Mike Hill Mycotoxicosis” via Adobe Connect. CERIS Programmer/Analyst Purdue University The workshop will be co-hosted by Nina Zidack (GPDN) and Gail Ruhl The 4th annual IT/Diagnostician’s (NCPDN). Presenters for this workshop meeting will be held at the Adam’s Mark will be Dr. Barry Jacobsen (Montana hotel in St. Louis, MO on November State University) and Dr. Charles 28-29, 2007. Members of the PDIS Woloshuk (Purdue University). The change management team will meet for primary focus of the workshop will be a half day on the afternoon of Tuesday to provide diagnosticians with sufficient November 27th. The IT/Diagnostician’s background to determine if mycotoxin- meeting will begin on Wednesday producing fungi are present in a sample November 28th at 8:00am and conclude and if specific genera are observed, how on Thursday November 29th at noon. and where to direct the sample to a lab PDIS users will meet for a half day in the for analytical testing. afternoon on November 29th.

The workshop will be delivered in 2 Continued on page 5... 2hr sessions, November 6 and 8, mid-day (time to be announced later), so we may serve all time zones. In order to present this virtual workshop we will need a minimum of 10 confirmed participants (maximum 100).

NPDN News 4 Continued from page 4... NEPDN Representatives: Karen Snover-Clift, Cornell National Representatives from all regions University, Diagnostic consisting of three diagnosticians as well Representative Database as IT staff have been invited to attend this meeting. Robert Durgy, University of Connecticut, Diagnostic Representative If you have specific input on National Nancy Gregory, University of Delaware, Repository uploads or about PDIS Diagnostic Representative that you would like addressed at this meeting, please contact your regional Karen Scott, Cornell University, IT representative below prior to the meeting Representative so they can bring up your comments at Julie Golod, IPM PIPE (Penn State), IT the meeting. Representative

GPDN Representatives: SPDN Representatives: Joy Pierzynski, Kansas State University, Ann Vitoreli, University of Florida, Diagnostic Representative Diagnostic Representative Will Lanier, Montana State University, Nick Singh, Louisiana State University, Diagnostic Representative Diagnostic Representative Amy Ziems, University of Nebraska, Tom Creswell, North Carolina State Diagnostician Representative University, Diagnostic Representative

Will Baldwin, Kansas State University, David Barber, University of Georgia, IT Sirex woodwasp (Sirex noctilio). (Photo New IT Representative Representative Zealand Forest Service) Jayasri Krishnasamy, Kansas State Howard Beck, University of Florida, IT University, IT Representative Representative

NCPDN Representatives: Jan Byrne, Michigan State University, Continued on page 6.. Diagnostic Representative Simeon Wright, University of Missouri, Diagnostic Representative Karen Rane, moving from Purdue University to the University of Maryland, Diagnostic Representative

Lee Duynslager, Michigan State University, IT Representative Eileen Luke, Purdue University, IT Representative

Forrest Nutter, Iowa State University, Epidemiology Representative

5 Volume 2 Issue 9 Continued from page 5... Regional SPDN Representatives Updates continued: Alan Henn, Mississippi Northeast Region State University, IT Representative First Detection of Sirex Ray Kimsey, North Carolina State Woodwasp, Sirex noctilio University, IT Representative Fabricus, in Vermont Todd Powell, PClinic (Virginia Tech), IT Representative On September 5, 2007 the USDA- WPDN APHIS confirmed Representatives: the detection of Carla Thomas, UC a single female Davis, Diagnostic sirex woodwasp Representative (Sirex noctilio) in Tim Tidwell, Lamoille, Vermont. CDFA, Diagnostic Representative The insect was Melodie Putnamm, caught in a trap Oregon State as part of a University, cooperative State Diagnostic and Federal survey Representative effort. This is the first detection of Andrew Coggeshall, Adult sirex woodwasp. (Photo William this pest in New UC Davis, IT Ciesla, Forest Health Management England. The sirex International, www.forestryimages.org) Representative woodwasp is a Casey Estep, highly significant, California Dept. of Food and Agriculture, regulated pest that has the potential to IT Representative cause widespread mortality to pine trees.

Leonard Coop, Oregon State University, To date, sirex woodwasp has been Epidemiology detected in 28 counties in New York, 5 counties in Pennsylvania, 1 county in Meeting participants can make Michigan and 1 county in Vermont. reservations at the Adam’s Mark hotel by calling 1-800-444-2326 and mentioning More information on this pest and this “NPDN” as the meeting name. Please detection can be found on the web at: contact Mike Hill at 765-494-9854 if you have any questions about the upcoming NAPPO Phytosanitary Alert System: meeting. We look forward to seeing you Detection of Sirex noctilio Fabricius in St. Louis. (Sirex woodwasp) in Lamoille County, Vermont – United States

NPDN News 6 National Events Upcoming November 28-29, 2007, 4th Annual IT/Diagnostician’s Meeting, St. Louis, MO Events

December 9-12, 2007, ESA Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA

December 12-14, 2007, 2007 National Soybean Rust Symposium, Louisville, KY

March 24-26, 2009, Sixth International IPM Symposium, Portland, OR

Northeast Region

October 10-12, 2007, Northeast Division APS Meeting, Cape May, NJ

February 26-28, 2008, NEPDN Regional Meeting, Chadds Ford, PA

Western Region

October 15-17, 2007, Thrips Identification Workshop, Davis, CA

Mary McKellar, Editor NEPDN Cornell University

7 Volume 2 Issue 9