Importation of Fresh Fruit of Avocado, Persea americana Miller var. ‘Hass’, into the Continental United States from Colombia
A Pathway-Initiated Risk Assessment
October 31, 2016
Version 4
Agency Contact:
Plant Epidemiology and Risk Analysis Laboratory Center for Plant Health Science and Technology
United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Plant Protection and Quarantine 1730 Varsity Drive, Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27606 Pest Risk Assessment for Hass Avocado from Colombia
Executive Summary
The Republic of Colombia requested approval for imports into the continental United States of fresh avocado fruit, Persea americana Mill. var. ‘Hass’, without a peduncle. Because this commodity has not been imported from Colombia before, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) conducted a pathway-initiated risk assessment to determine the risks associated with importing these ‘Hass’ avocados. We developed a list of pests known to occur in Colombia and associated with avocado based on the scientific literature, port-of-entry pest interception data, and information provided by the Colombian Ministry for Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA). Commercial ‘Hass’ avocado is a conditional non-host for the fruit flies, Anastrepha fraterculus, A. striata, and Ceratitis spp. Thus, we did not list these organisms in the assessment. We determined that three quarantine arthropod pests were likely to follow the pathway, and qualitatively analyzed them to determine the unmitigated risk posed to the United States.
Pest Taxonomy Pest Risk Potential Heilipus lauri Boheman Coleoptera: Curculionidae High Heilipus trifasciatus (Fabricius) Coleoptera: Curculionidae High Stenoma catenifer Walsingham Lepidoptera: Elaschistidae High
All pests were rated High and for pests with High pest risk potential, mitigations beyond port-of- entry inspection are recommended. Detailed examination and choice of appropriate phytosanitary measures to mitigate pest risk are part of the pest risk management phase within APHIS and are not addressed in this document.
Ver. 4 October 31, 2016 ii Pest Risk Assessment for Hass Avocado from Colombia
Table of Contents
Executive Summary ...... ii 1. Introduction ...... 1 1.1. Background ...... 1 1.2. Standard Harvest and Postharvest Processing ...... 1 1.3. Production in Colombia ...... 2 2. Risk Assessment ...... 2 2.1. Initiating Event: Proposed Action ...... 2 2.2. Assessment of Weed Potential of Avocado ...... 2 2.3. Current Status, Decision History, and Pest Interceptions ...... 4 2.4. Pest Categorization—Identification of Pests of Avocado in Colombia...... 4 2.5. Quarantine Pests Likely to Follow the Pathway ...... 45 2.6. Risk Assessment ...... 45 2.7. Pest Risk Potential and Conclusion ...... 50 3. Authors, Contributors, and Reviewers ...... 51 4. Literature Cited ...... 51 5. Appendices ...... 68 Appendix A. Harvest, post-harvest practices, and standard packinghouse procedures described for ‘Hass’ avocados produced in Colombia...... 68 Appendix B. Countries with permitted entry of Avocados into the United States...... 70 Appendix C. Current requirements for the entrance of Persea americana cv. Hass from different counties into the United States ...... 71 Appendix D. Decision sheets for Persea americana cv. Hass ...... 72 Appendix E. Pest interceptions on Persea americana entering the United States ...... 78 Appendix F. Pests reported on avocado, Persea Americana, and present in Colombia ...... 100 Appendix G. I