September 14, 2009
Lansing- Today, Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) Director Don Koivisto announced the successful eradication of Plum Pox Virus (PPV) in Michigan. Effective immediately, MDA also lifted the PPV quarantine, which has been in effect since June 2007. The quarantine was implemented after MDA inspectors detected PPV in Berrien County during routine disease survey activities. PPV is an exotic disease of stone fruit, which up until July 2006, was previously unknown in Michigan.
"This is a tremendous success story where MDA's early detection and rapid response mitigated tremendous economic losses for producers and the state and prevented widespread losses throughout the stone fruit industry assuring continued production of these valuable crops," said Koivisto. "The early detection of PPV allowed us to successfully eradicate this threat in short order when other states continue to battle this virus for more than a decade. Early detection and rapid response are key factors in minimizing the effect on our industry and on the state's economy."
MDA's PPV interior state quarantine prohibited the movement of susceptible stone fruit nursery stock out of, within, and into the quarantined area; and prohibited replanting into areas where MDA had to destroy stone fruit trees due to infection or likelihood of infection by PPV. The virus can only be transmitted by aphids or by grafting where infected cuttings or rootstock are used. This disease poses no human or animal health or food safety threat.
"MDA's ability to regulate the movement of stone fruit nursery stock, rootstock was vital to stopping the artificial spread of PPV to other areas of Michigan," said Ken Rauscher, MDA's Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division Director. "Our success hinged on our proactive survey efforts, quick response to this threat, and cooperation from both the industry and consumers."
In cooperation with Michigan's fruit producers, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Michigan State University (MSU), MDA conducted comprehensive sampling to ensure the virus had been eradicated from the state. After three years of comprehensive survey using USDA sampling protocols, MDA found no additional infected sites. The survey included sampling of commercial and homeowner peach, plum, apricot and nectarine growing areas throughout Michigan. All samples subsequent to the single initial sample which tested positive for PPV, have tested negative.
Additional information about PPV and a map of the quarantine boundaries is available on the MDA Web site at www.michigan.gov/mdaor local MSU Extension office.
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