Journal
PHYTOPATHOLOGY
Volume 107, Issue 10, Pages 1219-1228Publisher
AMER PHYTOPATHOLOGICAL SOC
DOI: 10.1094/PHYTO-04-17-0131-FI
Keywords
-
Categories
Funding
- California Leafy Greens Research Program (CLGRP)
- USDA-NIFA Hatch project [CA-D-PPA-2131-H]
- California Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Block Grant Program [SCB14043]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Seedborne pathogens and pests limit production in many agricultural systems. Quarantine programs help prevent the introduction of exotic pathogens into a country, but few regulations directly apply to reducing the reintroduction and spread of endemic pathogens. Use of phytosanitary thresholds helps limit the movement of pathogen inoculum through seed, but the costs associated with rejected seed lots can be prohibitive for voluntary implementation of phytosanitary thresholds. In this paper, we outline a framework to optimize thresholds for seedbome pathogens, balancing the cost of rejected seed lots and benefit of reduced inoculum levels. The method requires relatively small amounts of data, and the accuracy and robustness of the analysis improves over time as data accumulate from seed testing. We demonstrate the method first and illustrate it with a case study of seedbome oospores of Peronospora effusa, the causal agent of spinach downy mildew. A seed lot threshold of 0.23 oospores per seed could reduce the overall number of oospores entering the production system by 90% while removing 8% of seed lots destined for distribution. Alternative mitigation strategies may result in lower economic losses to seed producers, but have uncertain efficacy. We discuss future challenges and prospects for implementing this approach.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available