DPI's Bureau of Entomology, Nematology and Plant Pathology (the botany section is included in this bureau) produces TRI-OLOGY six times a year, covering two months of activity in each issue. The report includes detection activities from nursery plant inspections, routine and emergency program surveys, and requests for identification of plants and pests from the public. Samples are also occasionally sent from other states or countries for identification or diagnosis.
Section Reports
Our Mission…getting it done
The mission of the Division of Plant Industry is to protect Florida's native and commercially grown plants and the State's apiary industry from harmful pests and diseases. In fact, we have a new Florida policy that protects the state's agriculture industry and environment from invasive wood-boring insects.
During August 2010, the state adopted Rule 5B-65 Firewood and Unprocessed Wood Products, which established regulations to prevent the spread of these unwanted pests in Florida.
Firewood Rule Summary:
- - Commercial shipments of regulated articles will be allowed entry into Florida with a permit. Uncertified or infested shipments or regulated articles shall be quarantined, issued a Stop Sale and Hold Order, or denied entry into Florida.
- - Non-commercial shipments of regulated articles entering the state through the Department's agricultural interdiction stations without certification will be allowed entry only when issued a Report of Non-Commercial (Homeowner) Plants or Firewood Certification in Transit from Other States.
- - Commercial shipments of regulated articles moving intrastate are required to be accompanied by a certificate of inspection.
- - Locally produced or harvested firewood and unprocessed wood products harvested or produced within a 50-mile radius of the distribution point and not moved more than 50 miles from the point of origin are exempted and may be transported from areas contiguous to Florida without a certificate of treatment if the articles are accompanied by a proper bill of lading, proof of origin and any applicable federal certificates for shipments originating from a USDA-regulated area.
- - No locally produced firewood outside Miami-Dade County may enter Miami-Dade County unless treated and certified by the Department.
Rule Exemptions:
- - Cut Christmas trees may enter the state provided they are accompanied by a federal certificate required for movement from regulated areas of the United States or a certificate of inspected issued by the Department of Agriculture in the state of origin.
- -Primary and secondary forest products originating from states contiguous to Florida and transported from processing at mills and plants may enter the state.
- - Commercial shipments of processed mulch or processed wood chips for cooking destined for further distribution at retail outlets may enter the state.
- - Locally produced or harvested firewood and unprocessed wood products harvested or produced within a 50-mile radius of the distribution point and not moved more than 50 miles from the point of origin are exempted and may be transported from areas contiguous to Florida without a certificate of treatment if the articles are accompanied by a proper bill of lading, proof of origin and any applicable federal certificates for shipments originating from a USDA-regulated area.
- - No locally produced firewood outside Miami-Dade County may enter Miami-Dade County unless treated and certified by the Department.
We welcome your suggestions for improvement of TRI-OLOGY. Please feel free to contact me or Dr. Patti Anderson with your comments.
Dr. Wayne N. Dixon, editor
Director, DPI
Highlights
Following are a few of the notable entries from this volume of TRI-OLOGY. These entries are reports of interesting plants or unusual pests, some of which may be problematic. See Section Reports for complete information.
Elsinoe australis (sweet orange scab-like disease) on Citrus reticulata (tangerine)
Photograph from DPI Plant Pathology database
Elsinoe australis (sweet orange scab-like disease) has infected several Citrus species. First found in Florida in Broward County in November 2010, this organism is being referred to as a sweet orange scab-like disease because its identity has not been confirmed. During this period, 171 samples were submitted to test for this pathogen.
Clerada apicicornis, a blood-feeding lygaeid bug, a Continental USA record. A single specimen was found on Passiflora foetida, stinking passion flower, at a residence in Miami-Dade County. An extensive search failed to reveal any additional bug near the site.
Ceratitis capitata, Mediterranean fruit fly. Two wild male flies were caught in a trimedlure trap in Broward County on 31 January. Since then, weekly bait spray applications have been made in a radius of approximately 200 m around the detection site, and fruit from potential host plants was stripped away. A regulated quarantine area of approximately 49 square miles was established to prevent the movement of potentially infested fruit out of the area.
Meloidogyne floridensis induced root galls on Prunus persica rootstock 'Flordaguard'
Photography courtesy of Mariana P. Beckman and Janete A. Brito, DPI
Meloidogyne floridensis (Handoo et al., 2004), was initially thought to be primarily a pathogen of peach, but it has been found reproducing on vegetables, ornamentals and a weed. To our knowledge, this nematode species has only been reported in Florida, where it has been identified in eight counties. A new county record of this nematode infecting Cucumis sativus L. (cucumber) was found in St. Johns County.
Rosa palustris Marsh. (swamp rose) flower
Photograph courtesy of Will Cook, Duke University
Rosa palustris Marsh. (swamp rose), grows in wet areas throughout the eastern half of the United States and is found scattered and in North Central Florida and the Panhandle along stream banks, ponds and swamps. A sample of this lovely, perennial rose was collected in Flagler County.
Acknowledgements:
The editors would like to acknowledge the work of all those who contributed information and explanations by providing data, photographs or text and by carefully reading early drafts. We also thank Scott Weinberg for his skillful use of web authoring tools to produce this report.
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry
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