Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: This project aims to reduce the impact of Laurel Wilt disease, a devastating and emerging disease of avocados and related plants. Specific objectives of the proposal are 1. Assess susceptibility of available avocado cultivars (Persea americana) to the laurel wilt pathogen (Raffaelea lauricola), 2. Evaluate fungicides for control laurel wilt in avocados and 3. Determine potential for transmission of R. lauricola on pruning tools and equipment. efforts aimed at dealing with this disease. This proposal directly addresses 3 specific areas of study emphasized in the program description. Outputs during the funding period include 1. Dissemination of research results to avocado growers via 5 Laurel wilt working group meetings. The total attendance at these meetings was greater than 250. 2. Dissemination of findings in 4 extension publications. These online publications have been accessed greater than 10,000 times in 2 years. 3. Dissemination of research findings at 6 workshops, 3 in-service trainings, 9 scientific meetings (5 posters and 4 oral presentations). Total attendance = >3,500. These meetings include local, regional, national and international meetings (see abstracts below) 4. In 2011, research conducted for this project was presented as part of a display the annual SunBelt Agricultural Expo. This venue allowed our research findings to reach thousands of people each day during the event. PARTICIPANTS: During the reporting period, the following participants contributed to the project: Jason Smith, PI/PD, provided oversight for entire project, managed budgets and carried out research Randy Ploetz, Co-PI, provided oversight for entire project, managed budgets and carried out research Sharon Inch, postdoctoral researcher, carried out research and assisted in publications and dissemination of information Jose Perez Martinez, carried out research and assisted in publications and dissemination of information Fred Beckman, graduate student, carried out research and assisted in publications and dissemination of information Marc Hughes, carried out research and assisted in publications and dissemination of information Don Spence, carried out research and assisted in publications and dissemination of information TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences for this project included avocado growers, professional arborists, county extension agents, state and federal agencies and homeowners. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
There was a significant change in knowledge that was a direct result of this project which appears to be leading to a change in actions. Although a change in conditions has not been directly observed yet, there is a high likelihood that growers will use the new knowledge of which avocado cultivars are most resistant, which fungicides to use and how to reduce pruning transmission to reduce the impact of laurel wilt on avocado production, which was the goal of this project. At the workshops and other outreach events, change in knowledge was measured by pre/post tests and other forms of evaluation. The following summarizes the outcomes/impacts of this work. At the three ISTs, participants' (n = 59) knowledge of LW recognition, biology and management has increased by and average of 26.6% based on Pre/Post testing of IST participants. Average scores for pre-tests were 66.7% and for post-tests were 93.3%. Post-activity evaluations of workshops revealed that 94% of participants (n = 35) believed they had increased their knowledge of LW biology, recognition and management and several also indicated that they would like further training. Due to my programs, natural resource providers are aware of the problem and arborists are implementing changes (based on feedback at workshops) in the way they: (1) collect samples for diagnosis; (2) handle LW infested wood and (3) implement preventative fungicide treatments.
Publications
- Ploetz, R.C., J.A.Smith, M. Hughes, R.A. Blanchette and B. Held. 2010. Laurel wilt: An exotic, ambrosia beetle vectored disease in the southeastern USA. IUFRO World Congress. Seoul, South Korea. August 23-28, 2010.
- Smith, J.A., R.C. Ploetz and T.J. Dreaden. 2009. Laurel wilt of avocado: Management and mitigation research in Florida. American Phytopathological Society Caribbean Division/Florida Phytopathological Society Joint Meeting, Orlando, Florida May 16-19, 2009.
- Ploetz, R.C., T. Schubert, T.C. Harrington, J. Hulcr, G. Bender, R. Bostock, A. Eskalen, B. Faber, J. Capinera, J. Crane, E. Evans, C. Harmon, S. Inch, A. Palmateer, J. Pena, J. A. Smith, L. Stelinski, N. Epsky, P. Kendra, R. Schnell, K. Smith, D. Duerr, S. Fraedrich, J. Hanula, A.E. Mayfield, B. Rabaglia and M. Draper. 2011. Recovery plan for laurel wilt of avocado. In: Plant Diseases that Threaten U.S. Agriculture. Prepared for the National Plant Disease Recovery System, USDA and the American Phytopathological Society. 18 pp.
- Crane, J.C. and J.A. Smith. 2010. Guidance for extension agents and master gardeners on the detection and recommendations for mitigation of the redbay ambrosia beetle Laurel wilt disease on native trees in urban and natural areas and avocado trees in the home landscape. UF/IFAS Extension Document (distributed to county extension offices for guidance).
- Smith, J.A. 2009. Laurel wilt disease threatens farm and forest. Briefing for legislative assistant day at UF IFAS.
- Crane, J.C. and J.A. Smith. 2010. Homeowner detection of and recommendations for mitigating redbay ambrosia beetle laurel wilt disease on redbay and avocado trees in the home landscape. HS 1179. UF/IFAS EDIS Database. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1179.4 Trade Journals:
- Smith, J.A. and D. Spence. 2010. Laurel wilt disease summary for Florida. Florida Arborist 13(3): 1,5-7.
- Ploetz, R. C., J. M. Perez-Martınez, J. A. Smith, M. Hughes, T. J. Dreaden, S. A. Inch and Y. Fu. 2011. Responses of avocado to laurel wilt, caused by Raffaelea lauricola. Plant Pathology. in press. Doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3059.2011.02564.x.
- Ploetz, R.C., J. M. Perez-Martinez, E. A. Evans and S. A. Inch. 2011. Toward Fungicidal Management of Laurel Wilt of Avocado. Plant Disease 95 (8): 977-982.
- Ploetz, R.C., J.M. Perez Martinez, J.A. Smith and M. Hughes. 2010. Laurel wilt of avocado: Assessing genotypic responses, factors that influence disease development, and the potential for management with fungicides. IUFRO World Congress. Seoul, South Korea. August 23-28, 2010.
- Ploetz, R.C., Pena, J.E., Evans, E.A., Smith, J.A., Inch, S.A., Crane, J.H., Kendra, P., Hulcr, J., Stelinski, L., and Schnell, R. 2011. Laurel wilt: A global threat to avocado production. Cairns, Australia. September 5-9, 2011.
- Ploetz, R.C., J.E. Pena, J.A. Smith, T, Dreaden, T. Schubert, J.H. Crane, Palmateer, A.J., E.A. Evans, and W. Dixon. 2011. Laurel wilt arrives in Miami Dade County, FL: What happens now that the disease is present in a major avocado-growing area American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting. Honolulu, Hawaii. August 6-10, 2011.
- Spence, D. and J.A. Smith. 2011. Status of laurel wilt in Florida and management recommendations for dead trees. Florida Native Plant Society Annual Meeting. Maitland, Florida. May 19-22, 2011.
- Spence, D., J. A. Smith, A.E. Mayfield III, J. Hulcr, R.C. Ploetz and L. Stelinski. 2011. Assessing the survival of the redbay ambrosia beetle and laurel wilt pathogen in wood chips. North American Forest Insect Work Conference. Portland, Oregon. May 9-12, 2011
- Spence, D., J. A. Smith, A.E. Mayfield III, J. Hulcr, R.C. Ploetz and L. Stelinski. 2011. Assessing the survival of the redbay ambrosia beetle and laurel wilt pathogen in wood chips. Florida Phytopathological Society Meeting. Balm, Florida. May 2, 2011.
- Ploetz, R.C., J. M. Perez Martinez, E. A. Evans and J. A. Smith. 2011. Fungicidal management of laurel wilt of avocado: A progress report. Southwide Forest Disease Workshop. Quincy, FL. February 7-11, 2011.
- Beckman, F. and J.A. Smith. 2011. Disease management of laurel wilt on avocado: assessing the risk of pruning tool transmission of Raffaelea lauricola. Southwide Forest Disease Workshop. Quincy, FL. February 7-11, 2011.
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Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Outputs for this project for 2009 include a number of presentations (20 total), workshops (6), publications (4) and consultations (31). PARTICIPANTS: Not relevant to this project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
One major focus of my research has been laurel wilt disease, an emerging disease that threatens both native and cultivated tree species. My research on this disease has led to several major accomplishments including a rapid, real-time PCR detection assay for the pathogen that causes LW, Raffaelea lauricola. Using funds provided by the U.S. Forest Service, we have developed and optimized this diagnostic tool that is now being used by the National Plant Diagnostic Network and by labs as far away as South Africa. We continue to find solutions for managing LW by testing systemic fungicides for high-value trees and identifying potentially resistant redbay and avocado germplasm. We are collaborating with tropical fruit pathologists, entomologists and even economists to evaluate and mitigate the impact of laurel wilt on avocado production - a $30 million/yr. industry in Florida alone. Pine trees are a keystone species in many southern forests and we are conducting research on how to keep these forests healthy and productive. Our research on pitch canker in pine seeds has roots in international trade as seed companies could not ship seeds globally due to insufficient methods for certifying seeds. One of my graduate students, Tyler Dreaden, has developed a rapid, DNA-based technique that will make seed-testing significantly easier, faster and more accurate. Another important disease of pines that is a focus of my research is fusiform rust caused by Cronartium quercuum fsp. fusiforme (Cqf). We have teamed up with other geneticists and molecular biologists to utilize cutting-edge research tools to provide a better understanding of the underlying interaction of the pathogen and host in this system. This has led to the development of a cooperative agreement with the Southern Institute of Forest Genetics. Through this funding, I have hired a post-doctoral fellow, Claire Anderson who is working to clone the first avirulence gene from a tree pathogen. This information will lead to better strategies for deployment of resistant pine genotypes in the field and will reduce the impact from this disease. Additional outcomes from this preliminary work have been the development of a better genetic map for Cqf, a genome size approximation with flow cytometry and initiation of a genome sequencing effort for Cqf. There are several publications being prepared from this work and it is expected that the data from this work will allow lead to many more future collaborations, grants and publications. Although my research programs are still developing, since coming to UF in 2006, I have received over $3,500,000 in research funding, have hired 6 graduate students and 1 post-doc. I have published 10 peer-reviewed research papers - often in the best journals in my field (MPMI has an impact factor of 4.205), presented at numerous conferences and have integrated my research and extension programs to maximize efficiency and benefit to the state.
Publications
- Hughes, M., J. A. Smith, A. E. Mayfield, III, R.C. Ploetz, S. W. Fraedrich and T.J. Dreaden. 2009. Population studies of a newly introduced species of Raffaelea causing laurel wilt disease in the southeastern United States. Southwide Forest Disease Workshop. Greenville, South Carolina. June 29-July 2, 2009.
- Hughes, M. and J.A. Smith. 2009. Identifying and propagating Persea borbonia with putative resistance to laurel wilt disease. Southwide Forest Disease Workshop. Greenville, South Carolina. June 29-July 2, 2009.
- Smith, J.A., T.J. Dreaden, M. Hughes, A.E. Mayfield III, A. Boone, S.W. Fraedrich and C. Bates. 2009. First Report of Laurel Wilt Disease Caused by Raffaelea lauricola on Sassafras in Florida and South Carolina. Plant Disease 93: 1079.
- Smith, J. A., L. Mount, A.E. Mayfield III, C.A. Bates, W.A. Lamborn and S.W. Fraedrich. 2009. First report of laurel wilt disease caused by Raffaelea lauricola on camphor in Florida and Georgia. Plant Disease 93:198.
- Damadi, S.M., J.A. Smith and I.M. Abbas. 2009. Melampsora iranica, a new species of Melampsora on Salix. Proceedings of the Asian Mycological Congress. National Museum of Natural Science, Taichung, Taiwan. November 15-19, 2009.
- Smith, J.A., L.L. Mount, J. Cruse-Sanders, R. Determann and T. Spector. 2009. Status, disease etiology and recovery of the endangered Florida Torreya. Southwide Forest Disease Workshop. Greenville, South Carolina. June 29-July 2, 2009.
- Iyer, G.S., J.A. Smith and M.C. Monroe. 2009. Thinking in systems: A curriculum design approach for forest health Southwide Forest Disease Workshop. Greenville, South Carolina. June 29-July 2, 2009.
- Dreaden, T.J. and J. A. Smith. 2009. Comparison of molecular and culture-based methods for screening pine seeds for pitch canker contamination. Southwide Forest Disease Workshop. Greenville, South Carolina. June 29-July 2, 2009.
- Dreaden, T.J. and J. A. Smith. 2009. Development of a real-time PCR assay for detection of Raffaelea lauricola, causal agent of laurel wilt disease. Southwide Forest Disease Workshop. Greenville, South Carolina. June 29-July 2, 2009.
- Mount, L.L., J.A. Smith and R.A. Blanchette. 2009. New host associations and potential overwintering strategies of Melampsora species on poplar and willow in North America. Southwide Forest Disease Workshop. Greenville, South Carolina. June 29-July 2, 2009.
- Cruse-Sanders, J.M., T. Spector and J.A.Smith. 2009. An update on conservation efforts for Torreya taxifolia. Florida Rare Plant Task Force Meeting. Tall Timbers, Tallahassee, Florida. April 16-17, 2009.
- Smith, J.A., R.C. Ploetz and T.J. Dreaden. 2009. Laurel wilt of avocado: Management and mitigation research in Florida. American Phytopathological Society: Caribbean Division/Florida Phytopathological Society Joint Meeting, Orlando, Florida May 16-19, 2009.
- Smith, J.A., M. Hughes, C. Anderson, R.C. Ploetz and A.E Mayfield, III. 2009. Combating the loss of red bay and other native species to Laurel Wilt. American Phytopathological Society: Caribbean Division/Florida Phytopathological Society Joint Meeting, Orlando, Florida, May 16-19, 2009.
- Mount, L. L. and J.A. Smith. Identification of the Florida torreya canker pathogen. American Phytopathological Society: Caribbean Division/Florida Phytopathological Society Joint Meeting, May 16-19, 2009.
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