April 23, 2007

LANSING - Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) Director Mitch Irwin today announced the establishment of a state quarantine to prevent the spread of Plum Pox Virus (PPV) - a disease which affects stone fruit, such as plums and peaches. MDA detected the virus in a single plum tree east of Benton Harbor in fall 2006, resulting in portions of Berrien County being placed under federal restriction. The state’s quarantine restricts movement of susceptible trees and plant parts near the location where the PPV was discovered, but does not affect movement of fruit from the area.

"Michigan ranks second in the nation for agricultural diversity and sale of our 200 commodities are critical to many local economies across the state,"said Irwin. "Prohibiting movement of infected materials from the quarantine area in southwest Michigan will protect other areas of the state and reduce the risk this disease presents to our stone fruit industry."

PPV is a viral disease of stone fruit, such as peaches, nectarines, apricots, and plums and closely related ornamentals. The D-strain identified in Berrien County is not known to affect cherry trees. PPV can only be transmitted by aphids or by grafting where infected cuttings or rootstock are used. This disease poses no human or animal health threat.

"Our ability to regulate the movement of stone fruit nursery stock, rootstock and cuttings is crucial for preventing the artificial spread of PPV to other areas of Michigan and surrounding states," said Ken Rauscher, director of the Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division. "Our success depends upon compliance, so we urge citizens to abide by the state’s quarantine and not transport susceptible stone fruit species."

Individuals or businesses found violating the state’s PPV quarantine are subject to fines ranging from $1,000 to $250,000 and jail time of up to five years for moving regulated materials.

Additional information about PPV and a map of the quarantine boundaries is available on the MDA Web site or through your regional MDA office or your local MSU Extension office.