Infected Plants Potentially Shipped to Maryland Residents

Agriculture Secretary Addresses Concerns, Seeks Homeowner Help to Identify Sudden Oak Death

ANNAPOLIS, MD (Oct. 19, 2009) – Maryland residents may have received nursery plants infected with the fungus-like pathogen Phytophthora ramorum, which causes the disease sudden oak death.  This disease affects plants, trees and other shrubbery, but poses no threat to people.   

 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) notified the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA), that a nursery in a regulated area of Oregon, found to have infected plants during routine testing as part of a compliance agreement with USDA, shipped plant material directly to Maryland residents.  MDA notified each of the households that received these plants and provided them with a test kit. To date, only one plant, witch hazel, sent to a Montgomery County homeowner from the affected nursery, has tested positive for P. ramorum.  The department has received 22 samples and is following up to obtain plant samples from the remaining 15 test kit recipients. 

“USDA notified the Department that nursery stock potentially infected with P. ramorum had been shipped to Maryland from a nursery stock producer in Oregon,” said Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance.  “The discovery of sudden oak death on nursery stock is not cause for panic. MDA plant inspectors have been in contact with those who received these plants to inspect and test suspect material from the Oregon nursery. We encourage everyone to report suspicious plants – especially if they were purchased from the West Coast.”  

MDA, in cooperation with the University of Maryland Extension, is offering free testing to home gardeners who question if plants they have purchased are affected by P. ramorum.  For free testing, gardeners must first contact the Maryland Home and Garden Information Center, either online www.hgic.umd.edu/content/suddenoakdeath.cfm or by calling 800-342-2507. The disease attacks more than 30 types of plants, and causes a range of symptoms including leaf spots, cankers, dieback and death on certain types of nursery plants. Some plants can serve as disease carriers, spreading P. ramorum into natural areas where it can infect and kill trees, including oaks. 

“Establishment of this disease in Maryland would have far-reaching economic and environmental implications,” said Carol Holko, program manager of MDA Plant Protection and Weed Management. “If P. ramorum were to survive and spread, over 60 percent of Maryland’s hardwood forests could be at risk.”

Gardeners are encouraged to consider buying their landscape plants right here in Maryland where there is a plentiful supply of beautiful, locally-grown nursery stock. The Greenhouse and Nursery sector is the third largest agricultural industry in Maryland. Buying local nursery stock not only helps the environment with reduced miles traveled, but reduces shipping costs for consumers, supports local economies and most importantly reduces the risk of bringing unwanted pests and disease into Maryland.

In 2004, Maryland had three confirmed P. ramorum-positive samples from rhododendron and camellia plants. To date, P. ramorum has only been found in nursery stock and has not been found on oaks in Maryland. The disease can spread in many ways including by air and water. MDA continues to participate in national surveys in nurseries and in the environment to gather information on the potential for distribution of P. ramorum in Maryland.  These surveys help keep Maryland forests and nursery industries strong and free of this devastating plant pathogen.

To report possibly infected plants or for more information, contact the Maryland Home and Garden Information Center at 800-342-2507 or visit http://hgic.umd.edu/. Information is also available by logging onto www.mda.state.md.us under “Hot Topics.”