Phytophthora ramorum Surveys and Research
Update on Surveys
Details of the RAPRA project for the development of a European Risk Analysis for Phytophthora ramorum can be found here.
The survey of commercial nurseries and garden centres is ongoing. Over 1300 sites have been visited since 1 April 2005.
In addition, over 1550 parks, gardens and wild sites have been visited since 1 April 2005.
A progress report of the port inspection programme is also available.
Details of the Forestry
Commission’s woodland survey can be found on their website.
Update on scientific developments
The Plant Health Division of Defra, in partnership with the Forestry
Commission, the Horticultural Development Council and Defra's Chief
Scientific Adviser, continues to fund a co-ordinated programme of scientific
research to assess the threat posed by P. ramorum and more
recently Phytophthora kernoviae (also known as P. kernovii)
to the UK horticultural industry and the environment as a whole. We
have jointly committed substantial resources to support research to
investigate key biological aspects of the organisms including development,
dispersal and survival under a range of environmental conditions, as
well as determining the range of tree, heathland and ornamental species
at risk. Investment has been made in improved methodology for detection
and identification of both pathogens in plant material, soil and water
as well as an evaluation of potential control methods. This has primarily
been done through diversion of resources from other areas of work and
demonstrates the importance that has been attached to these diseases.
The results from this research will help to put forward effective eradication
and control measures based on a sound understanding of the diseases.
This collaborative programme will help speed up the process of understanding
the diseases and how they can be controlled. During 2004 two large EU
research projects started. The first project is investigating various
aspects of P. ramorum to further improve the understanding
of the dynamics and epidemiology of the pathogen and our understanding
of its risks. The second project is developing portable diagnostic tools
to detect the disease on-site and at points of entry. Defra and the
Forestry Commission are supporting the UK partners in these projects.
A detailed summary of the key findings from Defra funded research can
be found here (pdf - use magnifying
glass - Zoom in tool - to enlarge. Or print). Click
here for the publicity leaflet and images on key findings from UK
research (pdf). Research reports for work funded outside of the normal research programme can be found here.
Information on the current Defra Plant Health research programme can be
found here:
www.defra.gov.uk/planth/science/curr.htm
Details of all Defra funded projects can be found here:
www.defra.gov.uk/research/Project_Data/Default.asp
Information on the EU-funded P. ramorum pest risk analysis (RAPRA)
project and its database of hosts can be found at:
http://rapra.csl.gov.uk/
If you can't find the information you need in these pages please Contact us
Page last modified:
11 Jan 2008
Page published: 22 Nov 2004