Growers seek change in mum disease designation

The Mass. Flower Growers Assoc. and Conn. Florists Assoc. have sent letters to Rebecca Bech, deputy administrator of USDA-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s Plant Protection and Quarantine program, asking the agency to consider changing the designation of chrysanthemum white rust (Puccinia horiana Henn.) as a quarantine pest. The letters indicate that the disease has been a major concern the last few years for growers of fall mum crops. They state that existing regulations and implementation of the quarantine eradication protocol have caused member growers and retailers financial hardship. The quarantine status has also hindered interest in research by university scientists and chemical manufacturers.
The associations expect continued enforcement of the quarantine will result in further financial losses. They request that further discussion occur in regards to changing the disease’s designation to a regulated non-quarantine pest. In the mean time, growers will continue to select rust resistant cultivars and to apply fungicides to help control the pathogen.