APHIS Revises Response to Domestic Detections of Gladiolus Rust caused by Uromyces transversalis

 

Effectively immediately, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is revising the domestic response requirements for the rust pathogen Uromyces transversalis, commonly called gladiolus rust (GR), which was first detected in the United States in 2006. In 2007, APHIS and its state partners began taking action in accordance with the Gladiolus Rust National Eradication and Management Plan whenever the pest was detected in commercial growing areas, domestic commerce, and residential areas.

 

Based on the current distribution of the disease and its known biology and plant hardiness zones in the United States, the pathogen has spread to the limit of its natural range. Given these facts, APHIS will no longer take domestic action, or require others to take action, when GR is found in commercial growing areas, domestic commerce, or in residential areas. In addition, APHIS will initiate rule-making to update the import requirements for GR. APHIS will continue to regulate other gladiolus rust pathogens that are not known to occur in the United States, including Puccinia gladioli, Puccinia mccleanii, Uredo gladioli-buettneri, Uromyces gladioli, and Uromyces nyikensis.

 

APHIS is committed to supporting industry, stakeholders, and cooperators in the development of pest management strategies to control the disease in the most effective way. By ceasing domestic response actions for GR, APHIS and its partners will be able to focus resources on other, more serious pest threats while removing the burdensome requirements for domestic growers, homeowners, and cooperators who were often forced to destroy infected plants. GR can be controlled with best management practices, and APHIS will continue to serve as a technical resource and will cooperate with other USDA agencies, state departments of agriculture, and the gladiolus industry to control GR.

 

For additional details on the GR Program, please call National Policy Manager Lynn Evans-Goldner at 301-851-2286.