United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Stone Fruit Commodity-Based Surveying

What is commodity-based surveying? Why is APHIS moving to this approach? How do producers benefit? Why does early detection matter? What pests are detected by the survey? How is a survey conducted? What happens if pests are found? Why is grower participation critical? The Story Behind Commodity-Based Surveying

Protect value of growers’ crops and stone fruit industry Ultimate goal:

WHAT IS COMMODITY-BASED SURVEYING? USDA-APHIS

What is Commodity-Based Surveying? Bundled, comprehensive approach that: – Monitors for many different pests that can infest a single commodity crop – Helps growers better manage risks associated with exotic pest outbreaks – Offers proven, invaluable survey of variety of tree and field crops Team Effort: USDA APHIS, States, and Growers

HOW COMMODITY-BASED SURVEY TIES TO COOPERATIVE AGRICULTURAL PEST SURVEY USDA-APHIS

Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey CAPS program pioneered commodity-based approach Evolution of pest detection and mitigation Commodity- based method Area-wide approach Single pest survey

Cooperative Effort Remains Program allocates funding to states for implementation of commodity-based survey – Pest-surveillance program – Collaborative effort with industry Gives states flexibility while prioritizing exotic pests

WHY MOVE TO COMMODITY- BASED SURVEYING? USDA-APHIS

Preventive, proven survey method Safeguards valuable crop investments Sustains, preserves U.S. stone fruit industry Why Is APHIS Moving to This Approach? Goal: Protect value of crops, industry

HOW DO STONE FRUIT GROWERS BENEFIT FROM COMMODITY-BASED SURVEY? USDA-APHIS

Benefit to Stone Fruit Producers Early detection and response Protection from large-scale crop damage Support of market access to consumers Goal: Protect value of crops, industry

WHY IS EARLY PEST DETECTION IMPORTANT? USDA-APHIS

Early Detection Can: Minimize agriculture production costs Help reduce major crop losses Enhance product quality and marketability Sustain consumer purchases of commodity Ensure abundant and affordable supply of stone fruit to domestic and export markets Why Is Early Pest Detection Important? Goal: Protect value of crops, industry

How Serious is the Issue? Globalization increasing risks of exotic pest infestation Scientist have estimated that invasive species cost the U. S. more than $1 billion annually Your participation protects industry, value Pests bring risk of crop loss, diminished industry value

WHAT PESTS ARE DETECTED UNDER THE STONE FRUIT SURVEY? USDA-APHIS

Scientists Identified High-Priority Pests: Summer fruit tortrix Peach, guava fruit fly European stone fruit yellows Plum fruit moth Cherry bark tortrix Light brown apple moth What Pests Does the Survey Detect? Pear leaf blister moth European grapevine moth Plum pox European cherry fly False codling moth

Summer Fruit Tortrix Attacks variety of stone fruits Damage to foliage is insignificant, but damage to fruit can be serious Leaves may appear wilted, yellow, shredded, or dead Feeding on fruits or pods causes scabs or pitting Not known to be in U.S.

Peach, Guava Fruit Fly Eradicated in California, detected in Florida Attacks variety of stone fruits Adults spotted March to mid-November. Reported to travel at least 15 miles in search of new hosts Feed on nectar, plant sap, and decaying fruit Eggs are deposited within the fruit, cause premature fruit drop Jackson trap is approved trap-and- lure method

European Stone Fruit Yellows Epidemic disease Major threat because of severity of spread and no visible signs Not known to be in U.S. Affects tree flowers and shoots in winter Symptoms – Leaf reddening, rolling – Abnormal yellowing

Plum Fruit Moth Significant threat because it can develop on many wild and cultivated stone fruits as well as other plants in the same family Not known to be in U.S. Appear in April or May, and has one to three generations per year, depending on climate Larvae chew into fruit, usually near the stem, traveling from the outer part to the pit region and seal up the entrance hole with deposits of chewed fruit skin bound with silk

Cherry Bark Tortrix Damaging to ornamental cherries, plus Apple and crab apple: almond, apricot, nectarine, peach, and plum Spread from Washington to Oregon Active from April to September Eggs are laid on tree bark either singly or in groups Wounded trees become more attractive to secondary pests

Light Brown Apple Moth Recently found in the U.S. This pest can feed on more than 500 plant species in 121 families and 363 genera LBAM egg masses are flat, oval, and translucent Larvae move vigorously when disturbed, but are always connected to the leaf by a silken thread Majority of economic damage is caused by fruit injury.

Pear Leaf Blister Moth Leaf miner targets stone fruits One to five generations per year Symptoms: – Premature leaf fall – Circular blotches – Dark spiral markings

European Grapevine Moth Infests grapevine crops, possibly stone fruit Feeds on developing fruit – Early spring to midsummer Present in California Limited documentation of symptoms – Tunnel throughout fruit – Cocoon around pest’s feeding area B

Plum Pox Worldwide, plum pox virus (PPV) is the most destructive disease affecting stone fruit caused by a virus Plum pox virus can be transmitted by at least 20 aphid species In general, the virus is retained on the stylet up to a few hours. Long-distance spread can occur by movement of infected planting materials or grafting Symptoms can be obvious or very subtle on leaves, fruit, flowers, and seeds

European Cherry Fly The most significant threat for the United States is its presence in mainland Europe Females begin laying eggs in mid-June and insert them individually beneath the skin of ripening fruit, then larvae feed on developing fruits for approximately four weeks Fruit damaged by the larvae of European cherry fruit fly often rots; heavy infestations can reduce marketable yields significantly McPhail traps are used with torula yeast

False Codling Moth Attacks variety of stone fruits Life cycle: – 30–174 days Few visual symptoms – Brown spots on fruit – Dark brown waste matter – Yellowish-brown rinds – Premature ripening, fruit drop

HOW IS COMMODITY-BASED SURVEYING CONDUCTED? USDA-APHIS

Survey Process: How It Works USDA APHIS makes recommendation to states States use recommendation in deciding pest targets Surveyors and growers work closely together throughout the process Surveyors and growers identify trap sites Surveyors monitor traps and collect data Collaboration: Federal, state, industry, and growers

WHAT HAPPENS IF A PEST IS FOUND? USDA-APHIS

What Happens if a Pest Is Found? Appropriate response plan launched Team effort between agencies and growers – Create plan to reduce risk and mitigate pests – Rapid response minimizes large-scale crop damage – Prevents need for more costly, lengthy eradication program Goal: Protect value of crops, industry

PLUM POX VIRUS Case Study

Plum Pox Virus History First Case in North America: Fall 1999 in Pennsylvania Hundreds of trees initially infected Uncontrolled spread may diminish commercial nursery production Threatens stone fruit yields and quality

Rapid Response Plan Team: Government agencies, growers, and legislators – Quarantined infected crops – At peak, replant ban extended for several hundred square miles – Peaked within four years of introduction Damages exceeded hundreds of thousands of dollars

Plum Pox Virus Mitigation Plan Field surveys detect infected locations Only certified, disease-free nursery materials and virus-resistant plants introduced Control of aphid populations Removal of host plants, nurseries, and orchards 10-year eradication, control effort Result: Pennsylvania free of Plum Pox Virus in 2009

Response Analysis Without quick response: – PPV may have wiped out Pennsylvania stone fruit industry – Posed significant threat to $1.4 billion U.S. stone fruit industry Successful example of government, industry, and growers working together Goal: Protecting value, rebuilding value of Prunus crop

COMMODITY-BASED SURVEYS: GROWER PARTICIPATION IS KEY USDA-APHIS

Growers Critical to Success Know crop and industry best Personally invested in crop and operation Survey will be more effective with grower involvement