Departments > Parks, Recreation and Culture > Parks Division > Integrated Pest Management > Sudden Oak Death (SOD)

Sudden Oak Death (SOD) - Phytophthora ramorum

Camellia infected with Phytophthora ramorum

The plant pathogen, Phytophthora ramorum, which causes the disease known as Sudden Oak Death (SOD), was recently discovered on horticultural nursery stock in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. The name of the disease is somewhat misleading, as the pathogen attacks many plants other than oaks. The current host list contains plants from many plant families (i.e. Douglas-fir, rhododendron, vaccinium, madrone, pieris, virburnum, and camellia) that are extremely important to the ornamental, small fruit, Christmas tree, and forest industries in British Columbia as well as a potential invasder to native ecosystems.

Following the discovery that Camellias infected with Sudden Oak Death had been imported from Monrovia Nursery in Azusa, California, and sold to the public in British Columbia, a public recall was conducted by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the BC Landscape & Nursery Association (BCLNA). The recall, which lasted from April 20 to June 4, 2004, was intended to remove any Camellia plants that may have been infected with SOD from private properties, to prevent the spread of SOD into the urban or natural environment. During the recall, people who bought Camellias that were imported from Monrovia Nursery between September 1, 2003, and April 2004 were asked to call a Camellia "hotline" operated by the CFIA. Collection staff hired by the BCLNA was sent to the homes of people who owned potentially infected Camellias, to remove them in a manner that would prevent spreading of the disease. Any BC resident who suspects that they may have a Camellia from Monrovia Nursery should contact the CFIA.

The recall was very successful, with over 1,000 calls to the hotline from people who had bought Monrovia Camellias, and over 1,400 plants picked up by the BCLNA. All of the Camellias picked up were removed, sampled, and double-bagged for disposal in a designated landfill. The CFIA is in the process of completing testing of the Camellias picked up during the recall. As of July 2, ten Camellias, recovered from nine properties, have tested positive for SOD. Testing will be completed soon, and it is expected that several more infected Camellias may be found.

The CFIA is now following up on the Camellias that tested positive for SOD. A CFIA representative has contacted the people who owned the infected plants. In each location where an infected Camellia was planted outdoors, all host plants within a four-metre radius will be removed, sampled, and destroyed. A survey will be conducted within a 10-metre radius around the four-metre zone, and any host plants in this area will be sampled. The samples from both zones will be tested and, if any tests are positive for SOD, the process will be repeated. In any cases where Camellias were planted close to property lines, the four-metre removal area will extend into neighbouring properties. This means that plants may have to be removed from properties belonging to people who did not have any Camellias and therefore did not participate in the recall. The CFIA is contacting the owners before any actions are taken on these properties.

There are no provisions for any monetary compensation for any plants that are removed during this follow-up operation. However, the BC Landscape & Nursery Association and its members have generously volunteered to help people whose plants are removed by the CFIA to re-establish their gardens.

Invasive alien species like this fungal like organism causing Sudden Oak Death affects all of us. For more information, please check the CFIA site at:
www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/protect/dir/directe.shtml

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