The Pennsylvania Plum Pox Eradication Program, 1999-2009
Expelling a Plant Pest Invader: The Pennsylvania Plum Pox Eradication Program, A Case Study in Regulatory Cooperation by Ruth Welliver1, Karl Valley1,3, Nancy Richwine1,3, Gary Clement2,3 and Don Albright2,3 1Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Plant Industry. 2301 N. Cameron St. | Harrisburg, PA 17110 2 Eastern Region (Field Operations), Plant Protection and Quarantine, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service United States Department of Agriculture Raleigh, North Carolina 27606 3 Retired Abstract Plum Pox Virus (Sharka), the most serious viral disease of stone fruits globally, was first identified from North America during October 1999 from infected peaches in Adams County, Pennsylvania. A Plum Pox Virus survey, eradication and outreach program was conducted in Pennsylvania from 1999-2009 by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, US Department of Agriculture, Pennsylvania State University, and numerous cooperators and supporting agencies. This paper chronicles the project’s evolution from detection of the disease to declaration of eradication, including types of surveys conducted and lab tests used. To determine the distribution of the virus in Pennsylvania, State and Federal personnel sampled all commercial stone fruit trees in the state for a minimum of three years, eventually concentrating most of their activities in the four south central counties (Adams, Cumberland, Franklin, and York) where the virus was detected. Staff issued numerous treatment orders leading to the removal and destruction of nearly 1,800 commercial acres of stone fruit trees. In addition, 10 acres of abandoned stone fruit trees, 54 acres of stone fruit tree nursery stock, 1,174 stone fruit trees or shrubs on residential properties, and 1,420 ornamental stone fruit trees in landscape nurseries and garden centers were ordered removed and destroyed.
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