Building Pennsylvania’s First Detector NetworkRuth WelliverPDA Bureau of Plant Industry, Plant Health Programsrwelliver@pa.govOctober/November 2013

Outline

• Why do First Detector online training?

• Sample and Communication Flow

• Putting Pests in Perspective…. Lists!

• Sample Submission Notes

• Training Others

Photo courtesy of Charles Lam

First Detector Training Rationale

In a pest emergency, WE – all of us – are the First Responders.

Sample Flow Photo by Scott Edhardt

First Detector Local Extension OfficePSU Plant Disease, Weed, or Ent ID

Labs PDA Plant Labs USDA-APHIS-PPQ

identifiers************************************For Regulatory Staff: directly from First Detector PDA Plant

Labs

Sample Flow

Sample Result Communication Flow

First Detector Local Extension OfficePSU Plant Disease, Weed, or Ent ID Labs PDA Plant Labs, SPHD and

SPRO USDA-APHIS-PPQ

identifiers************************************For Regulatory Staff:First Detector (PDA Inspectors) PDA

Labs

What Ifs…. ?

Regulated business (such as a nursery) brings samples to Extension?

… and a regulated pest if identified?

Homeowner or commercial crop farmer walks into PDA lab with sample?

Asian Longhorned Beetle detection is reported on the local news, based on a homeowner sighting?

Pest information does not always flow in the channels we set for it Open Communication minimizes misunderstandings, saves time reacting to the information and the pest situation

Putting Pests in

Perspective…. Pest Lists

Pest Categories - Pest Lists

Select Agent vs. Quarantine pest vs. Regulated Non-Quarantine Pest vs. High Consequence Pest

vs. Economically-Important Pest vs. Public Nuisance vs. Just a Pest!

Invasive pestSignificant agents

...endemic,

emerging, and

exotic

pathogens

and pests High Consequence Pests, Diseases and Weeds

Actionable Pest

Select Agent vs. High Consequence

Select Agent: A very specific list of pathogens that could

be deployed as bioterrorism weapons. Human, Animal, and Plant pathogens and

toxins NOT a real concern for most First

Detectors High Consequence

Economic or Ecological damage potential Regulatory significance

One of these things is not like the others….

…The only one who must be inspected annually by PDA

Who doesn’t belong?

Established in PA - EAB

Emerald Ash Borer already present in Pennsylvania, eradication not feasible

Who doesn’t belong?

CWR on mums

Late blight on tomatoImage from http://extension.psu.edu/plants/vegetable-fruit/vegetable-disease-images/tomato

INSV on NGI

RsR3B2on geranium

Select Agent vs. RNQP

Ralstonia solanacearum R3B2

Who doesn’t belong?

Musk thistle (Carduus nutans)

Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)

Mile-A-Minute, Polygonum perfoliatum

Giant Hogweed, Heracleum mantegazzianum

All four are PA noxious weeds, but only Giant Hogweed requires immediate control action.

Giant Hogweed, Heracleum mantegazzianum

Not as easy as it was in kindergarten…

Many lists available, overlapping Need different ones for different purposes Lists change as situations change Requires good communication among users!

… which is why we are here, and why we chose to highlight the pests we did today

Submitting Samples

“A small, poor quality sample gets a small, poor quality answer!” (John Watkins)

Submitting Samples

Is a picture worth a thousand samples?

County Extension Offices are a first contact point! - http://extension.psu.edu/counties

PSU Plant Disease Clinic – Specimen Info Form; and Instructions

PSU Entomology Labs: 814-865-1896 PSU Turfgrass Services:

http://plantscience.psu.edu/research/centers/turf/extension/services

************************************ PDA Entomology: Sample Submission Form

PDA Weed: PaPlants PDA Pathology: PaPlants

No!

What makes a good insect sample?

Complete Need insect(s), not a leaf with a hole that may have been chewed by an

insect…. Need whole insect. Multiple specimens and/or multiple stages are useful

Secure (Dead!) Place in 70-80% Ethyl or Isopropyl Alcohol in a leak proof vial. Moths, Butterflies, and Mealy bugs should be frozen and placed in a hard

plastic container with dry paper toweling Other? – Best to contact entomologists

Adequate Information Complete submission form Include damage photos or descriptions of anything

unusual. Proper Packaging

Secure to prevent escapes or leaks Use pencil or alcohol-safe ink for data label (Sharpie and regular

Packaged to pens bleed) Protect condition of specimen until it reaches the lab

What makes a good disease sample?

Complete Whole plant is better than part of a

plant; show range of symptoms

Adequate information – Specimen Info Form or PDSR

completed; images helpful

Proper Packaging Condition maintained to lab; O/N

shipping best, keep cool but not frozen.

Secure –plants alive but in packaging that prevents leaks or escapes.

What makes a good weed sample? Complete

Whole plant is better than part of a plant Include roots, flower, fruit, and seeds when possible Multiple specimens are helpful

Adequate information Include surrounding habitat (field, road side, yard, etc)

information   Proper Packaging

Packaged to protect condition of specimen until it reaches the lab

Avoid temp and moisture extremes Make sure foliage is dry when packaged;

pat dry with paper towel if needed Secure to prevent escapes or leaks

Building the First Detector Network in Pennsylvania

You

Sharing First Detector Info

www.firstdetector.org Modules on

Diagnosing Plant Problems Some scripted presentations

available at: https://firstdetector.org/jsp/contentPages/power%20point%20presentations.jsp

Need other training tools? - Contact the Plant Health Resource

Center!

Thank you!

Image Citations

ALB – 5431705: Melody Keena, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Tuta absoluta - 5432149: Marja van der Straten, NVWA Plant Protection Service, Bugwood.org

Oak splendour beetle – 5371055: Gyorgy Csoka, Hungary Forest Research Institute, Bugwood.org

EAB – 5369165: Marianne Prue, Ohio Department of Natural Resources - Division of Forestry, Bugwood.org

Comparison of Globodera rostochiensis and Globodera pallida – 1356147: Ulrich Zunke, University of Hamburg, Bugwood.org

Several images have photographer credited with the image. Images without any associated credits are from PDA Plant Industry collections.