Progress 09/01/19 to 08/31/22
Outputs
Target Audience: IFQRG Group, Virtual symposium 2021 (October) and 2022 (September) IfQRG, the international forest quarantine group, supports the FAO IPPC Community by addressing critical forestry quarantine issues for the global plant protection community through scientific analysis, discussion and collaborative research. Approximately 40-80 scientists, govermental regulators, industries involving study of invasive species. We presented our results at the meetings, Bretziella fagacearum in Quercus alba logs: Vacuum steam treatment, pathogen viability, and implications for European risk assessment at 2021's meeting, and Vacuum/Steam Technology to Eliminate Pinewood Nematodes in Naturally Infested Pine Logs at 2022's meeting. Presentations were 15 minutes with a 5-minute question period and additional questions were discussed at the end of day. 2. MBAO meeting. Orlando, Florida November 3, 2022 Under the Clean Air Act and Montreal Protocol, methyl bromide, a widely used fumigant in agriculture and forestry that is also an ozone-depleting substance, was phased out since January 1, 2005. The exemptions are for users who do not have technically or economically feasible alternatives, such as log exporters. Mbao conference is sharing information on current research into methyl bromide alternatives. Attendance in the past has surpassed 400 researchers, growers, and interested persons, with a significant level of international participation. We presented our topics of "Field Demonstration of Vacuum Steam Treatment to Eliminate Trade Barriers". The most promising alternative to the methyl bromide fumigation of exported logs is steam heating the log in a vacuum. This process has been shown to be more effective, efficient, and sustainable than chemical fumigation. Research has confirmed that steam heating oak sapwood in logs, to 56C and held for 30 minutes kills all oak wilt pathogen. The purpose of this test shipment of white oak veneer logs was to determine whether this heat treatment method has any effect on log quality or value. Seventeen, steam and vacuum treated and seventeen, untreated control logs, were shipped from Elkton, Maryland, through the Port of Baltimore, to Danzer Bohemia - Dyharna in Melnick, Czech Republic, for processing into veneer, between December, 2021 and February, 2022. The treated and untreated logs were sawn into flitches, soaked in hot water vats, sliced, dried, and the veneer from each log was graded for quality. Each log was assigned a value based on the veneer quality and yield. The average treated log value was 1,547 €/m³ and the average value of the untreated logs was 1,539 €/m³. The null hypothesis was confirmed, statistically. It is therefore concluded, that the 56C/30, sapwood, heat treatment using vacuum and saturated steam had no adverse impact on the value of the white oak veneer logs moving through international supply chains. 3. May 2, 2022 Masengill Machineary Company Morristown, Tennessee, 2022. Some other telephone conferences on the issues. Masengill Machinery Company is a family owned and operated business since 1963. Masengill Machinery Company is a charter member of the United Woodworking Machinery Exchange; an active member of Woodworking Machinery Industry Association; Cherokee Metal Products, Inc. is a manufacturer of metal stamping products. The Masengills purchased the entire company in the early 1970's. Metal stamping is used by the housing industry in the manufacturing of trusses and upholstered furniture. Along with producing metal plates, Cherokee Metal Products also provides design software and has a registered engineer on staff to review and seal drawings. Discuss about our idea of metal split restrictors used to control end-splites during treatment. We were discussing the design of a new split restrictor for use during steam vacuum treatment. We are working with USDA to patent the ring arrestor. We have discussed the ring and solid plate designs as log end plates. Discuss the design and testing of the ring arrensoors. 4. Forhna Missouri, June 22, 2022., Work with IVT group in Missouri to promote vacuum steam technology to treat logs. International Veneer and Timber, Frohna, Missouri specializes in harvesting and delivering White oak, walnut and hickory logs. IVT harvests and deliver some of the finest northern species such as red oak, hard maple, black ash, yellow birch, white ash, and bird's eye and curly Maple. Its business ranges from procurement, to sales, to shipment to foreign countries, such as Germnay, China, etc. International Veneer & Timber has been serving the world through the export of forest products since 2002. We promoted using steam vacuum technology to control/eliminate the insects, fungi and worms in trees and logs for many years. Vacuum/steam is very effective on the energy distribution. We have helped IVT on the complete fasibity of using vacuum and steam to sanitize logs for export. They are ready to invest in the equipment, pending on the goverment regulatory approval. 5. Nov. 10, 2021. Elkton, Maryland. Talk to groups in Mill Creek Lumber company, Elkton MD. Polo Pallet Company, Elkton, MD. 14 representatives from USDA APHIS, Phytovac Company, Cecil county economic development. Platinum PR. State of Maryland Department of Commerce. Polo pallet staffs also attended the talk. 6.Promote vacuum steam technology to treat fruits with APHIS, Miami S&T Lab, 13601 Old Cutler Rd., Miami, FL 33158 Phytosanitary treatment is necessary in order to prevent the introduction of quarantine pests during international and domestic movement of fruits. Commonly used quarantine treatments for fruit fly disinfestation include chemical and non-chemical treatments such as fumigation, heat treatment, cold treatment, and irradiation. For many tropical fruit species, chemical fumigation and cold treatment are less desirable because of possible residues and/or treatment damage to fruit quality. In December of 2019, scientists of APHIS-S&T Miami Lab and Virginia Tech University collaboratively conducted experimental trials using vacuum steam process on tropical fruit from southern Florida. Preliminary results showed that avocado, mamey, guava, dragon fruit, and star fruit are generally tolerant in various degrees to vacuum steam treatment (unpublished data). Therefore, vacuum steam process under suitable parameters could be a promising treatment option for disinfestation of fruit fly from fruit of southern Florida. 7. Danzer Americas and Daner Bohemia in Czech Republic. Danzer Group cooperated with State of Maryland and Virginia Tech in conducting a testshipment of white oaks between US and Europe to demonstrate that the vacuum steam treatment has no affects on the log value. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?During the time we talked to our audiences, we always taught and trained them about log or pallet quarantine compliance. We also educated them how to use the vacuum and steam system and provide them the technical answer. We also make sure audience know about the log quality and veneer quality through quality assurance training. From the results of this research there are two very important concepts to be conveyed to stakeholders: 1. While 56C/30 minutes at a 2 cm depth below bark eradicates all oak wilt pathogen in the white oak logs, white oak species naturally retard oak wilt propagation. It seems that these tree species tend to "encapsulate" the initial infestations within the stem and slow the spread. This was enshrined by the limited positive detections in control specimens, months after tree inoculation. Our studies have confirmed that the risk of pathogen spread by global shipment of white oak logs will be significantly less than by red oak logs. It is believed this resistance in white oak is associated with the tyloses occlusions in the white oak vessels cells. Lacking tyloses, the pathogen moves more easily in red oak vessel cells. 2. Prior research by others, has confirmed that 56C for 30 minutes kills all life stages of the pinewood nematode. Published protocols for treating solid wood packaging materials can reliably confirm these temperatures are reached through these relatively small pieces of wood. Our research has shown that within pine logs there can be significant variations in internal temperature profiles. The level of monitoring needed to assure target temperatures throughout these pine logs will be challenging. From this research, a more practical approach will be to treat to a target temperature of 60 C at the log center and hold for 60 minutes, using a less extensive temperature monitoring. Based on the efficacy of the protocols evaluated in this study, this would assure all regions of the log reach the 56C threshold. These take-a-ways will help stakeholders and decision makers, commercialize this non-chemical alternative to MBr fumigation of oak and pine logs. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Publishing project findings in journals (see Products section) Presenting results at conference and professional meetings (MBAO conference and IFGRG meetings) Presenting program results to related industries and stakeholders (IVT, Danzer Veneer, Lyme Timber Group, Ecolab, Western Fumigation (Orbis). AG-Fume, Rainco Forest Industries, Turman Group, Laird Logs of Maryland, Mountaineer Forest Management LLC ) Creating treating program materials (see other products), Sharing information through an organization's website (outputs presented at the web platform of the Center for Forest Products Marketing (CFPB) at Virginia Tech, www.cfpb.vt.edu, www.phytovac.com,) Summarizing some findings in progress reports. Publishing information in the local newspaper (Cecil Daily) https://www.cecildaily.com/business/agriculture/agriculture-elkton-company-helping-with-export-testing-afbf-not-happy-with-build-back-better/article_a01657d0-ceaf-530a-a545-a7a0f61e4587.html Issuing a press release: Test Shipment of Heat Treated, White Oak Veneer Logs to the EU. Updated September 20, 2021 Key audiences have included: Federal officials (USDA FS and USDA APHIS) Timber industries. Pallet industries American Walnut Association Fumigators Universities (university Minesota) Community groups State and county extension offices State government (Maryland, Virginia, Missouri) What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Logs and main stem disks obtained from Quercus alba trees infected with Bretziella fagacearum, the fungal pathogen that causes oak wilt, were used in complementary studies to 1) evaluate the ability of vacuum steam (VS) treatment to eradicate the pathogen from logs and 2) characterize the spatial distribution and viability of the fungus disks taken at 1.8 m intervals between logs harvested for the VS study. Trees were artificially inoculated with the pathogen in June 2019, exhibited localized crown wilt symptoms in 2019 and 2020, and were harvested in late October 2020. For the VS study, five replicate trials with three logs pr load were conducted in a portable chamber to test two VS treatment schedules: 60° C for 60 minutes and 56° C for 30 minutes. No viable B. fagacearum was found in logs following either VS treatment schedules at 5 cm targeted depth below the bark furrow; however, the pathogen was isolated from only 0.63% of pre-treatment sapwood samples (n = 792 assayed samples). In the colonization study, B. fagacearum was isolated from 2.7% of sapwood samples (n = 110 assayed samples), while pathogen DNA was detected in 60% of sapwood samples taken from the same locations. The very low levels of viable pathogen in logs and disks of these studies suggest that previous year infections, often bounded by clear tissue of the current year growth increment, would not be a source of inoculum for bark or wood-boring insects. Testing materials: Twenty logs, southern pine (Pinus spp.), that were naturally infested with pinewood nematodes were acquired from Wilmington, North Carolina. The logs were shipped to Vrignia tech. They were crosscut into forty logs (2.5 m long). Logs were ranging from 8.5 inches to 12 inches in the small end diameter (SED) and 8 feet in length with two-inch trim allowance after crosscut. The logs were harvested in North Carolina. Treating schedules Three treating schedules were used for the pine logs. The first one is recommended in ISPM 15 to use a temperature of 56°C and hold 30 minutes at the center locations. Another is 60°C and holding 60 minutes. The one was used for fruit scheclule that is 48 holding 15 minutes. The treatment cycle continued until the set temperatures of the desired locations that were reached and held for the specified period. The initial vacuum pressure was 100mm Hg and test chamber temperature was set to 90°C. The results are, 1) No live nematodes were found in any log less than 28 cm in diameter, treated to the center to 60C and held for 60 minutes. A few survivors were found in larger logs treated to this schedule. 2) The 48C/15 and 56C/30 treatments were significantly less effective 3) The average cycle time to treat the pine logs to 60C for 60 minutes to the center, was 550 minutes. 4) There was no significant change in log color or increase in end splits after heat treatment. Log quality was not impacted by any heat treatment used in this test. Develop accepted, efficacious treatment schedules in conjunction with regulatory agencies and industry Heat treatment of oak Quercus spp. logs using vacuum and steam USDA-APHIS-PPQ-CPHST for inclusion in the USDA Treatment Manual. Treatment criteria is that the temperature of all log bark (if present) and sapwood be heated to at least 56C and held for 30 minutes. See more in the "Other products". Economical and business analysis results. Two customized cost and feasibility analyses of steam and vacuum log treatment for International Veneer Timbers in Frohna, MO and Lyme Timber, Vermont were done. These were cost estimates of about $205/ 40 foot containers of oak logs. Methyl Bromide charges by Fumigators is about $1000/ 40 foot container. Both companies await regulator approvals of the targeted VS Heat treatment schedules before investment. Due to the expiration of EU Commission Decision 2005/395/EU on 31 December 2020, methyl bromide fumigated oak logs from the US, with bark attached, cannot be shipped to, and received by EU countries. The only treatment option for logs coming from oak wilt and TCD infected regions, is to heat treat to the center of the log and remove all bark. Industry has long recognized that bark on the log is a layer of protection that improves processing yield and the quality of products derived during processing. Log quality and value decreases upon bark removal, especially during the protracted international movement associated with export and import. Recent research has confirmed that heating the sapwood of oak and walnut logs to 56C and held for 30 minutes in a vacuum and saturated steam environment is 100% effective in eradicating both the oak wilt and TCD pathogen as well as the insect vectors. Additional research has shown that such a treatment has no impact on log quality and value. Red and white oak logs Quercus spp. and targeted pest oak wilt Bretziella fagacearum. Infestations of oak wilt are limited in the living oak tree and oak logs to the bark, cambium, and sapwood. Infestations the TCD pathogen is limited in the living tree and log to the bark and cambium. Therefore, treatment efficacy must be demonstrated in these regions of the log. Pathway and pest mitigation analysis: According to USDA FAS GATS the primary log species exported to EU countries are walnut, white oak and red oak. In 2019 the value of such exports was: White oaks - $12.9 million USD Red oaks - $1.3 million USD Walnut - $31.8 million USD The principle white oak species exported are; White oak Quercus alba, and bur oak Quercus macrocarpa. The principle red oak species exported are; Northern red oak Quercus rubra, and black oak Quercus Velutina. . Upon harvesting logs are temporarily staged in the forest but within one to two days, they will be loaded onto a trailer for over the road shipment to a log concentration yard or to a sawmill for sorting. Typical distances are 150 to 200 km. Logs will be sorted at these locations into logs for domestic processing and those logs for export. If debarking is required, this will be done at these locations. The logs for export would typically remain at the mills or concentration yards for 1 to 5 days. Then they will be again be loaded on trailers or directly into freight containers for over the road transport to a treating facility. This could be a short distance of 50km or up to 500km or more near an eastern US port. The logs or container with logs will be unloaded and placed into temporary open storage prior to treatment for 1 to 3 days. Detailed coordination is required for reserving freight containers and vessels and these schedules are subject to change. The heat treatment will be applied either to the containerized load of logs or the non-containerized logs. To facilitate treatment the doors of the containerized logs will be open for treatment. Immediately after treatment the doors of the freight container would be sealed or the non-containerized logs would be transloaded into a freight container and sealed. In both cases the log temperature would be between 56C and 80C when sealed, in the container. A Phytocertificate would be issue by approved agency. Consignment documents would be issued by the forwarding and import agents. The sealed container is then shipped either intermodal by rail or over the road to the Port of departure. Typically, within 48 hours the container is loaded onto a vessel for shipment to the destination port in the EU. This is typically 7 to 10 days depending on interruptions, weather, etc. Upon unloading the vessel, the sealed container would be placed into temporary storage, pending clearance documentation is in order. The container would then be shipped by rail and/or over the road to the processing facility.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Yang, A. 2021. Bretziella fagacearum in Quercus alba logs: Vacuum steam treatment, pathogen viability, and implications for European risk assessment. IFQRG (2021) Proceedings of the 2021 Symposium # 18 of the International Forestry Quarantine Research Group. October 2021, Virtual Symposium. International Forestry Quarantine Research Group.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Z Chen. 2022. Vacuum/Steam Technology to Eliminate Pinewood Nematodes in Naturally Infested Pine Logs.IFQRG (2022) Proceedings of the 2022 Symposium # 19 of the International Forestry Quarantine Group
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
M. White. 2022. Field Demonstration of Vacuum Steam Treatment to Eliminate Trade Barriers. 2022 MBAO Converence, Orlando Florida
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Under Review
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Z. Chen et al. 2022. The Effect of International Supply Chain Handling Practices on the Quality of Heat Treated, White Oak Veneer Logs. Bioresource.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Marc A. Hughes, Jennifer Juzwik, Zhangjing Chen, Blaine Luiz, Lisa M. Keith. 2022. Evaluation of Kiln Heating as a Phytosanitary Treatment for Ceratocystis-Infested O� hia (Metrosideros polymorpha) Wood. Forest Prod. J. 72(3):207215. doi:10.13073/FPJ-D-22-00024.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Juzwik J, Hughes MA, Chen Z, Yang A, Keith L, White MS. 2022. Vacuum steam treatment of Metrosideros polymorpha logs for eradication of Ceratocystis huliohia and C. lukuohia. Plant Disease. 106:1114-1121. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-07-21-1424-RE
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Jennifer Juzwik, Anna Yang, Sarah Heller, Melanie Moore, Zhangjing Chen, Marshall White, Holly Wantuch, Matthew Ginzel, Ron Mack. 2021. Vacuum Steam Treatment Effectiveness for Eradication of the Thousand Cankers Disease Vector and Pathogen in Logs from Diseased Walnut Trees. Journal of Economic Entomology, 114 (1)100-111. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toaa267.
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