Nurseries May Have Shipped Sudden Oak Death Pathogen Nationwide

A funguslike pathogen that kills oak trees and has devastated forests in California now has plant pathologists scrambling to halt its spread outside the state. In a nightmare come true, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) announced on 10 March that the sudden oak death pathogen, Phytophthora ramorum, had been found at a nationwide nursery supplier. Although sales of all species that can harbor the pathogen were halted immediately, the nursery has shipped potentially infected material to 783 garden centers in 39 states over the past year. "We're dealing with a significant emergency," says Steve Lyle, a CDFA spokesperson.