Techniques for the treatment, removal and disposal of host material during programmes for plant pathogen eradication

Abstract

Eradication of plant pathogen incursions is very important for the protection of plant industries, managed gardens and natural environments worldwide. The consequence of a pathogen becoming endemic can be serious, in some cases having an impact on the national economy. The current strategy for eradication of a pathogen relies on techniques for the treatment, removal and disposal of affected host plants. There are many examples where these techniques have been successful but many where they have not. Success relies on a sound understanding of the biology and epidemiology of the pathogen and its interaction with the host. Removal and disposal of infected plant material for eradication and containment of plant and soil inhabiting fungal, bacterial and viral pathogens are reviewed by considering black Sigatoka of banana, apple scab, maize smut, fireblight, citrus canker and sharka disease of stone-fruit crops. In examining examples of dealing with plant pathogens and diseased host material around the world, particularly Australasia, various techniques including burning, burying, pruning, composting, soil-and biofumigation, solarization, steam sterilization and biological vector control are discussed. Gaps in the literature are identified and emphasize the insufficient detail of information available from past eradications. More effort is required to produce and publish scientific evidence to support the success or otherwise of techniques and suggestions for future research are proposed.

A New Israeli Tobamovirus Isolate Infects Tomato Plants Harboring Tm-22 Resistance Genes

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Sharka Epidemiology and Worldwide Management Strategies: Learning Lessons to Optimize Disease Control in Perennial Plants

“…4. Preparedness: Where disease is absent, early detection and prompt reaction to disease introduction are crucial (131). For PPV management in Australia and New Zealand, national surveys in orchards and periodic response exercises (77,121) complement the strict control of incoming prunus material.…”

When are eradication campaigns successful? A test of common assumptions

“…When responsible authorities are confronted with a new infestation, they need to know which factors are most important for enhancing the likelihood of eradicating the unwanted organism so that an appropriate control strategy can be designed and implemented. A number of reviews of eradication campaigns has been published in the last two decades, comparing the outcomes for various taxonomic groups based on descriptive case studies (Clout and Veitch 2002;Simberloff 2003b, Myers et al 2000Genovesi 2007;Bomford and O'Brien 1995), or assessing taxonomic groups separately, such as plants (Mack and Lonsdale 2002;Rejmánek and Pitcairn 2002;Simberloff 2003a), mammals (Courchamp et al 2003), moths (Brockerhoff et al 2010), invertebrates (Dahlsten and Garcia 1989), plant pathogens (Sosnowski et al 2009) or vertebrates and plants (Genovesi 2005). …”