Apr 23, 2007

Quarantine Issued To Control Spread of Plum Pox

The Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) has established a state quarantine to prevent the spread of plum pox, a disease that affects stone fruit such as plums and peaches.

MDA detected the virus in a single plum tree at the Southwest Michigan Research and Education Center east of Benton Harbor in the fall of 2006, after which portions of Berrien County were placed under federal restriction. The state’s quarantine restricts movement of susceptible trees and plant parts near the location where virus was discovered, but does not affect movement of fruit from the area.

“Prohibiting movement of infected materials from the quarantine area in southwest Michigan will protect other areas of the state and reduce the risk this disease presents to our stone fruit industry,”said MDA Director Mitch Irwin, in announcing the long-expected quarantine.

Plum pox virus (PPV) is a viral disease of stone fruit such as peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums and closely related ornamentals. The D-strain of PPV identified in Berrien County is not known to affect cherry trees. PPV can be transmitted by aphids or by grafting where infected cuttings or rootstock are used.

“Our ability to regulate the movement of stone fruit nursery stock, rootstock and cuttings is crucial for preventing the artificial spread of PPV to other areas of Michigan and surrounding states,”said Ken Rauscher, director of the Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division. “Our success depends upon compliance, so we urge citizens to abide by the state’s quarantine and not transport susceptible stone fruit species.”

Individuals or businesses found violating the state quarantine are subject to fines ranging from $1,000 to $250,000 and jail time of up to five years for moving regulated materials.

Additional information about plum pox and a map of the quarantine boundaries is available on the MDA Web site at www.michigan.gov/mda or through regional MDA offices and local Michigan State University Extension offices.