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Dear Wisconsin nurseries, Christmas tree growers, and gardeners:
As we're gearing up for another productive growing season, take a moment to read through a few updates from the DATCP nursery program.
Please send any feedback, questions, or ideas for future e-news updates to datcpnursery@wisconsin.gov.
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Spotted Lanternfly egg mass hitchhiking on a pallet | USDA Lance Cheun
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April Marks Invasive Plant Pest & Disease Awareness Month
The United States Department of Agriculture has declared April 2022 Invasive Plant Pest and Disease Awareness Month. This national outreach month is dedicated to highlighting the impact invasive plant pests and diseases have on plant health nationwide and educating folks about actions they can take to help reduce their spread. It’s frustrating to learn about a newly discovered nonnative, invasive plant pest poised to kill plants, damage ecosystems, or even just cause a nuisance. Thankfully, there have been advancements over the years to reduce the spread and impact of nonnative, invasive pests.
The last two decades have seen many new policies and techniques related to different pest risk pathways--like the treatment of packaging materials used in trade to prevent the introduction of wood boring insects, like the infamous Emerald Ash Borer and Asian Longhorned Beetle, which were likely stowaways on international cargo arriving in the 1990’s. Preventative measures have the potential to save billions of dollars in damages caused by invasive pests.
If left unchecked, these invasive pests can affect many aspects of life—destroying lumber needed to build homes, food for the table, flowers in the garden—and have already cost billions of dollars to the U.S. economy. Some can even hurt public health. People can help reduce damage caused by invasive plant pests and diseases by limiting the movement of things that could harbor them. Many invasive insect and diseases can be moved on firewood—both on and under the bark—so moving firewood long distances should be avoided. Instead, use certified firewood or purchase firewood at your destination. Invasive pests can also be found hitchhiking to new areas by laying eggs on outdoor gear and vehicles. Familiarize yourself with invasive pests that could be in our area such as the spotted lanternfly, hemlock woolly adelgid, or the Asian Longhorned beetle by reading our regulatory pest information; and report harmful, invasive and highly suspicious insects that may be new to the state to datcppesthotline@wi.gov; or if you think you’ve seen Spotted Lanternfly, report it at SLF.wi.gov
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Jumping worms and granulated soil texture | DATCP L. Meils
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Jumping Worms Becoming More Widespread in Wisconsin
Nursery growers, landscapers and gardeners: Are your containerized plants free from invasive jumping worms? Preliminary findings from a UW-Arboretum study indicate jumping worms (Amynthas spp.) may be present to some degree in every county in Wisconsin. Jumping worms are listed as a Restricted Invasive Species and regulated under WI Chapter NR 40.
To mitigate the spread, learn to identify and detect jumping worms. Monitor soil and mulch in landscape settings. Jumping worm infested soil resembles coffee grounds. They start to emerge from cocoons once soil temps reach 50 degrees F and will hatch throughout the summer. To identify, inspect the clitellum. This is a smooth, whitish colored band, completely encircling the worm’s body, close to its head. Jumping worms wriggle, thrash and can drop their tail to escape.
Inspect sites for jumping worms and their cocoons. If soil texture looks suspect, shovel a sample into a pail, fill with water and look for small, dark, round cocoons floating on the surface. To check for adults, a mustard water solution (1/3 c. ground mustard and one gallon water) poured slowly over soil, will irritate their skin, driving them to the surface.
Jumping worms can be found in potted plants, soils, mulch, compost and fishing bait. Take precautions to avoid movement of this worm and their cocoons. Wash soil from plant roots and move them bare-root. Use a brush to remove debris from shoes, tools, equipment and vehicles. Jumping worms are parthenogenic. A single cocoon can start a new population. Research on control is underway. Recent research indicates plants high in saponins, such as soapwort or alfalfa, may suppress earthworm populations when planted at an infested site.
Reporting jumping worm sightings to the Wisconsin DNR (invasive.species@wi.gov) will allow researchers to better understand where this pest is located in Wisconsin and aid research efforts.
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Sample of paper nursery inspection reports | DATCP L. Meils
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Nursery Inspections Going Digital This Season
In 2021, inspectors piloted a GIS-based electronic inspection system during fall Christmas tree inspections. Inspection data was collected on a smartphone app and results were then emailed to growers as a PDF. For those without email, paper copies were mailed.
Both inspectors and growers have been happy with the convenience of this new system, including quick receipt of inspection results, better legibility, ability to easily attach and share photos, and less paper and mailings. Because of these benefits, we’ll be implementing digital nursery inspections this growing season.
Visit our Nursery and Christmas Tree Inspections page for more information, including best management practices for pests and diseases and contact information for your local nursery inspector.
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Water soaked lesion symptoms of X. hortorum pv. pelargonii on ivy geranium | Mary Ann Hansen Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
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Pathogen Highlight: Xanthomonas hortorum pv. pelargonii - Bacterial Blight
A bacterial blight on geraniums caused by Xanthomonas hortorum pv. pelargonii has been detected again this year in the US. This particular Xanthomonas species only infects zonal, ivy, Regal, Martha Washington, and cranesbill geraniums. Symptoms of bacterial blight include wilting leaves, yellow to tan v-shaped lesions between leaf veins, water soaked spots on leaf undersides, and leaf death. These symptoms overlap with those of Ralstonia solanacearum race 3 biovar 2, which is a USDA select agent pathogen. The best ways to control and prevent the spread of this disease is to scout geraniums regularly for symptoms, isolate newly arrived geraniums, disinfect surfaces and tools, and if any symptomatic plant are observed, send them for testing.
If you suspect your geraniums may be infected and are a licensed nursery grower or dealer, contact DATCP’s nursery program at (608) 224-4572 or datcpnursery@wisconsin.gov. If you are a homeowner, contact the UW-Madison Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic https://pddc.wisc.edu/.
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Learn More
For more information about Wisconsin's Nursery and Christmas Tree Programs, visit DATCP's Nursery and Christmas Tree Program webpage.
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