Award purpose. The primary purpose of this agreement is to manage the facility that creates a simulated ornamental plant nursery where research can be conducted on quarantine pests and pathogens while…

Award purpose. The primary purpose of this agreement is to manage the facility that creates a simulated ornamental plant nursery where research can be conducted on quarantine pests and pathogens while safeguarding plant health and the environment. Experimental studies will be carried out through cooperating educational institutions and will serve to provide plant protection and biosecurity in support of PPQ efforts. These research studies continue to focus on p. Ramorum and have expanded to other nursery pathogens of quarantine significance, such as p. Tentaculata, causal agent of root disease, calonectria pseudonaviculata, causal agent of boxwood blight, the plum BUD gall mite, and the invasive mediterranean OAK borer, xyleborus monographus. Activities to be performed. The nors-DUC staff provides technology transfer and education outreach of nors-DUC successes to the nursery industry, regulatory agencies and interested parties on a local, state-wide, and national level. Nors-DUC maintains partnership with CA department of food and agriculture (cdfa) on voluntary best management practices (BMP) program, and dissemination of research findings, providing educational programs, and facilitating outreach efforts, provides input on and conduct research on behalf of the participating U.S. Research scientists on a daily basis. Nors-DUC conducts assigned research as required by each participating researching institution, and conduct independent research performed by the nors-DUC staff, performs maintenance and services to ensure site integrity in support of nors-DUC research. Nors-DUC provides these deliverables by performing maintenance and assessing upgrades for laboratory and field facilities as needed in support of research efforts, conducts on-site monitoring and surveying activities, and follows best management practices to ensure the field sites remain free from unwanted plant pathogens and pests. Deliverables and expected outcomes. For the performance period under this agreement, we anticipate the following research using the nors-DUC facility: steam disinfection of p. Ramorum from nors-DUC research field soils and steaming on the go services. Tracking plant diseases by monitoring a sentinel plant system at nors-DUC. Studies to understand the spread of p. Ramorum from infested native BAY trees to containerized rhododendrons and manzanitas. Study of the role species of phytophthora play in disease symptom development on CA chaparral plants. Maintain a select source of infected plants for PPQ s & t beltsville lab for their diagnostic work. Conduct koch's postulates on select SOD-associated host plants. Studies on other newly emerging quarantine pest and pathogens in north america. Work with dominican university undergraduate and graduate students. Nors-DUC staff will perform continuous monitoring of p. Ramorum in nursery water systems and native creeks, the campus native environment, sentinel plants and barrier plants within and outside the research perimeter fence and within a ¼ mile of the research site. Intended beneficiary(IES). The p. Ramorum regulatory programs, the nursery industry, and subject matter experts wishing to study the p. Ramorum pathosystem and general best nursery practices. Subrecipient activities if any. N/a