Gladiolus rust detected in Florida

On April 30, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued an Emergency Action Notification for a commercial gladiolus farm in Manatee County, Fla., following the detection and confirmation of gladiolus rust (Uromyces transversalis) on April 28. In order to prevent the spread of the disease, the APHIS notification establishes specific requirements for continued production and interstate movement of gladiolus stems from the affected area.

Gladiolus rust was previously detected at the same farm in April 2006. Since then, APHIS and Fla. Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Plant Industry, have worked together on an eradication program that includes intense surveillance at this farm. After 2 production seasons during which rust was not detected, APHIS declared the pathogen eradicated from Manatee County in the summer of 2009.

To prevent further spread of the disease, all host articles including corms, stems, flowers, and leaves of gladiolus plants are restricted from moving interstate from the affected farm. Interstate movement will be permitted only if plant material is free of rust symptoms or, if harvested from fields known to have rust, the gladiolus stems and leaves must be dipped in Phyton 27.

Disinfection requirements for personnel and equipment as well as other measures are in place to control infection levels in the field.