Journal Article

Phytophthora Introductions in Restoration Areas: Responding to Protect California Native Flora from Human-Assisted Pathogen Spread

Swiecki, Tedmund J., Shor, Alisa, Conforti, Christa, Alexander, Janice M., Hillman, Janell, Frankel, Susan J., Benner, Diana, Ingolia, Mia, Bernhardt, Elizabeth

2020

Overview

Over the past several years, plantings of California native plant nursery stock in restoration areas have become recognized as a pathway for invasive species introductions, in particular Phytophthora pathogens, including first in the U.S. detections (Phytophthora tentaculata, Phytophthora quercina), new taxa, new hybrid species, and dozens of other soilborne species. Restoration plantings may be conducted in high-value and limited habitats to sustain or re-establish rare plant populations. Once established, Phytophthora pathogens infest the site and are very difficult to eradicate or manage—they degrade the natural resources the plantings were intended to enhance. To respond to unintended Phytophthora introductions, vegetation ecologists took a variety of measures to prevent pathogen introduction and spread, including treating infested areas by solarization, suspending plantings, switching to direct seeding, applying stringent phytosanitation requirements on contracted nursery stock, and building their own nursery for clean plant production. These individual or collective actions, loosely coordinated by the Phytophthoras in Native Habitats Work Group ensued as demands intensified for protection from the inadvertent purchase of infected plants from commercial native plant nurseries. Regulation and management of the dozens of Phytophthora species and scores of plant hosts present a challenge to the state, county, and federal agriculture officials and to the ornamental and restoration nursery industries. To rebuild confidence in the health of restoration nursery stock and prevent further Phytophthora introductions, a voluntary, statewide accreditation pilot project is underway which, upon completion of validation, is planned for statewide implementation.

• Publisher: MDPI AG
• Subject: administrative management / Agricultural management / agriculture / Biodiversity / California / Case studies / collective action / Contractors / direct seeding / ecologists / Environmental restoration / Flora / Flowers & plants / forests / Habitats / Horticulture / Host plants / hybrid species / Indigenous plants / indigenous species / industry / Introduced species / Invasive species / Natural resource management / Natural resources / New taxa / Nonnative species / Nurseries / nursery stock / Pathogens / Phytophthora / Phytophthora tentaculata / Pilot projects / plant nurseries / Plant populations / Plant production / Planting / population / Public utilities / rare species / Restoration / Seeding / Watersheds