Phytophthora ramorum

Screening Questions to determine the need to submit a plant sample for Phytophthora ramorum testing¹

1. What plant or plants are affected?

1. The plant is a camellia, rhododendron, viburnum, pieris, kalmia or lilac purchased since 2002 - go to Question 4.

2. The plant is adjacent to a camellia, rhododendron, viburnum, pieris, kalmia or lilac purchased since 2002 - go to Question 2.

3. None of the above - unlikely to be P. ramorum . Do not submit sample.²

2. Is the plant known to be a host for P. ramorum? (Current host list can be found on the USDA-APHIS website at www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/ispm/pramorum.

1. Yes. Plant name appears on the list of hosts or associated hosts for P. ramorum, or plant belongs to the same genus as a listed host or associated host - go to Question 3.

2. No. Plant name does not appear on the list of hosts or associated hosts, nor does the plant belong to the same genus as a listed host or associated host - unlikely to be P. ramorum. Do not submit sample.²

3. Is the plant a member of the oak family (red oak, pin oak, beech, chestnut, chinquapin)?

1. Yes. Go to Question 5.

2. No. Go to Question 4.

4. Does the plant display foliar symptoms of leaf spots, defoliation, or stem dieback similar to those shown on the photos of plants infected with P. ramorum? (www.ncipmc.org/suddenoakdeath/images.html)

1. Yes. Contact your local University of Illinois extension office for digital image submission.

2. No. Unlikely to be P. ramorum. Do not submit sample².

5. If the plant is a member of the oak family, does it display the following symptoms?

1. Bleeding from the bark without wounds, cracks, or insect holes (www.ncipmc.org/suddenoakdeath/images.html). Bleeding does not have a foul odor. In advanced stages of the disease, bleeding may be accompanied by widespread, rapid death of the crown. Contact your local extension office for testing. Observe surrounding nursery plants and repeat questionnaire starting at Question 2 if symptoms are present.

2. No bleeding from the bark, or bleeding is associated only with wounds, cracks, or insect holes - unlikely to be P. ramorum . Do not submit sample.²

¹ From USDA Phytophthora ramorum Educate to Detect Program (PRED). Adapted for Illinois by Nancy Pataky, University of Illinois Plant Clinic, March 2005.

² Information on other plant diseases and disorders is available through the University of Illinois (www.ipm.uiuc.edu/diseases/#600)

Direct questions to the University of Illinois Plant Clinic , 217-333-0519, or visit the Plant Clinic web site at http://plantclinic.cropsci.uiuc.edu