COMPOST: A PLANT BIOSECURITY MEASURE DAVID CROHN, JIM DOWNER, BEN FABER, STEVEN SWAIN, DEB MATHEWS, AND MATT DAUGHERTY SUPPORT THROUGH ANR

EMERGING PESTS IDENTIFIED BY CALRECYCLE Asian Citrus Psyllid: pest that transmits “huanglongbing“ bacterial disease (HLB) Aphid-like, feeds on leaves and stems HLB is most devastating citrus disease in the world Infected trees produce inedible fruit and eventually die. There is no cure. HLB has devastated much of Asia, India, Middle East, South and Central America Detected in the southeast and in California in 2012 California has a $1.8 billion citrus industry HLB has cost Florida $7 billion over the last five years

EMERGING PESTS IDENTIFIED BY CALRECYCLE “European Grapevine Moth is found in southern Asia, Europe, North Africa, Anatolia, Caucasus and South America. The pest primarily damages grapes, but has also feeds on various crops and plants. Light Brown Apple Moth is an insect native to Australia. It is a pest of concern because it feeds on agricultural produce and damages a wide variety of plants (more than 2,000 species). Some of the plants it affects are roses, chrysanthemums, jasmine, and clover, as well as eucalyptus, poplar, and pine trees. Sudden Oak Death is a disease that has caused the death of large numbers of oaks and tanoaks, mostly in the coastal counties of California. In recent years, the cause was identified as a new plant pathogen, Phytophthora ramorum. Many species of nursery stock are now known to be susceptible to Phytophthora ramorum. Lerp Psyllid has severely impacted the red gum eucalyptus. Vast numbers of eucalyptus trees died in Southern California because of heavy infestations of these small, sucking insects. Especially hard hit by the lerp psyllid are red gum trees in Los Angeles County and counties on the southern coast of California. Bark Beetle infestations, coupled with California's recent multi-year drought exacerbated the fire risk because of abnormally high tree deaths in Southern California's regional forests. This insect has plagued more than 500,000 acres in Southern California's regional forests. Bark beetle infestations in Northern California also are of concern because of the associated fire risk, but these infestations involve significantly less acreage.”Calrecycle 2012

BACKGROUND CalRecycle directed to increase landfill diversion rates to 75% by 2020 New environmental regs applied to compost but not to chip & grind (G&G) material  Air (VOCs, ammonia)  Water (nitrate) Cost of compost likely to significantly increase compared to C&G

BACKGROUND C&G may not be enough to eliminate pests reliably Under California regs (Title 40)  Compost MUST reach 55°C for AT LEAST 3 days  C&G can NEVER reach 55°C and must be removed within 3 days of delivery

APPROACH Consider WORST case for pest survival  Insects  Weeds  Viruses  Fungi

TREATMENTS Size Reduction  No Reduction  Chipping  Grinding Temperature  25°C  55°C Environment – Isolated – Compost Time – 0 days – 3 days

CITRUS SAMPLES

NUTSEDGE

CLOVER

TOMATO

BERMUDAGRASS

P

ACP ADULT

CITRUS LEAFMINER

TMV

FUSARIUM

CONCLUSIONS There is evidence that concern is warranted More research is needed into  Different pests  Field conditions  Epidemiology  Economics