APPENDIX II

Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) quarantine language

FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION
DA-2010-11
November 10, 2010

SUBJECT: Federal Order for Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae, bacterial canker of kiwifruit.

TO: STATE AND TERRITORY AGRICULTURAL REGULATORY OFFICIALS

This Federal Order is being issued to prevent the introduction and dissemination of a bacterial canker of kiwifruit (Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae) into the United States. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will prohibit importations of Actinidia spp. plants for planting (including pollen but excluding fruit and seed) hosts of P. syringae pv. actinidiae (bacterial canker of kiwifruit) from all countries. This Federal Order is effective November 10, 2010.

Recent scientific literature identifies Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae as a destructive plant pathogen that is seriously affecting orchards of kiwi plants around the world. The disease is rapidly spreading though Asia and Europe. In Italy, it is estimated that the economic losses (including impact on trade) due to P. syringae pv. actinidiae have reached 2 million Euros.

Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae is not known to occur in the United States. Plant pathogens, including viruses and viroids, are extremely difficult to detect during a port of entry inspection of the host plants, particularly in the absence of symptoms. The pathogen is not known to be seed or fruit transmitted.

In order to prevent the entry of Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae, APHIS has determined it is necessary to prohibit the importation of Actinidia spp. plants for planting (including pollen but excluding fruit and seed) until a pest risk analysis is completed and appropriate effective mitigation measures have been established.

For additional information regarding this Federal Order, please contact Lydia E. Colón at (301) 734-7839 or by email at Lydia.e.colon@aphis.usda.gov

Rebecca A. Bech

Deputy Administrator
Plant Protection and Quarantine

FEDERAL IMPORT QUARANTINE ORDER

Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae causal organism of bacterial canker of kiwifruit

November 10, 2010

The purpose of this Federal Order is to prevent the introduction into the United States of the harmful plant pest Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae, causal agent of bacterial canker of kiwifruit.

This Federal Order is issued pursuant to the regulatory authority provided by the Plant Protection Act of June 20, 2000, as amended, Section 412(a), 7 U.S.C. 7712(a), which authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to prohibit or restrict the importation, entry, exportation or movement in interstate commerce of any plant, plant product, biological control organism, noxious weed, article or means of conveyance, if the Secretary determines that the prohibition or restriction is necessary to prevent the introduction into the United States or the dissemination of a plant pest or noxious weed within the United States.

Plants species of the genus Actinidia are susceptible to P. syringae pv. actinidiae, the causal agent of bacterial canker of kiwifruit. The pathogen is not known to occur in the United States and is not transmitted by fruit or seed. However, the pathogen may spread through international movement of plants for planting (including pollen) which may include symptomless plant material. Plant pathogens, including viruses and viroids, are difficult to detect during a port of entry inspection of the host plants, particularly in the absence of symptoms.

The kiwi plant industry represents one of the major sources of income from fresh fruits for several countries around the world. In North America, kiwi plants are widely grown in California and are major economic crops.

Recent scientific literature reports that Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae is causing economic losses in Italy, Japan, and the Republic of Korea. Bacterial canker of kiwifruit has become one of the most limiting factors for cultivating kiwi in the Republic of Korea and Japan. In Italy, where the pathogen was recently introduced, estimated losses are reported to have reached 2 million Euros.

Bacterial canker of kiwifruit can spread rapidly between plants and adjacent orchards in winddriven rain and strong winds. Low temperatures between 50° – 68 °F are favorable to the disease, with optimum temperatures at 59 °± 37.4 °F. Symptoms appear on trunks, leaders and overwintering canes from late winter to early spring as cankers and cracks. Rusty-brown bacterial ooze may exude from lesions and from apparently healthy buds, leaf scars, lenticels and joints of trunks, leaders and canes. Brown water-soaked lesions with halos appear on leaves, and wilt or blight of vigorous canes and flower buds appear in late spring. Kiwi leaves are most susceptible to the pathogen just before maturity.

To prevent the introduction of Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae, APHIS has determined that is necessary to discontinue the importation of Actinidia spp. plants for planting (including pollen but excluding fruit and seed) from all countries, until a pest risk analysis is completed and appropriate effective mitigation measures have been established. Due to the potential for spread of this plant pathogen, this Federal Import Quarantine Order is effective beginning November 10, 2010.

Plant genera prohibited pending pest risk assessment (PRA):

All plant parts including pollen with the exception of the fruit and seed from all species of the genera Actinidia.

Countries from which plants for planting are prohibited pending a PRA:

All countries.

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Click here to download the PDF of this Federal Order.