Source: UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS submitted to
WESTERN REGIONAL CENTER IN THE NATIONAL PLANT DIAGNOSTIC NETWORK
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
EXTENDED
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1010034
Grant No.
2016-37620-25851
Project No.
CA-D-PPA-2347-OG
Proposal No.
2016-07136
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
AA-G
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2016
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2018
Grant Year
2017
Project Director
McRoberts, D. N.
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS
410 MRAK HALL
DAVIS,CA 95616-8671
Performing Department
Plant Pathology
Non Technical Summary
The University of California, Davis serves as host of the western regional center for the National Plant Diagnostics Network (NPDN). The NPDN, working together with various federal and state agencies, has the overall goal of enhancing national agricultural security by safeguarding plants in agricultural and natural ecosystems. The mission of the network is to quickly detect high consequence pests and pathogens that have been introduced intentionally or accidentally, identify them, and report them to appropriate responders and decision makers. The Western Plant Diagnostics Network (WPDN) includes representatives from land grant institutions, state departments of agriculture, and the USDA/APHIS from ten western states (AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, NM, NV, OR, UT, and WA) and U.S. island territories in the Pacific (American Samoa and Guam). With the current proposal, we seek funds to ensure that service provided by the Network is of the highest quality by (1) providing continuing support to plant diagnostic laboratories in the region to enable them to receive, process, and safely dispose of plant samples and make accurate diagnoses thereof; (2) participating in lab accreditation efforts in the NPDN, to the extent that is appropriate; 3) continuing communication to inform first detector audiences and foster cohesion among regional network members; and (4) providing resources for diagnostic lab management and continued submission of diagnostic data to the NPDN National Repository. The plan focuses on resources and needs in the western region, and reinforces interagency partnerships that are critically important for building a strong national network.
Animal Health Component
0%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
2112410113014%
2122410110216%
2132410114014%
2142410106014%
2122410112014%
2122410111014%
2122410110114%
Knowledge Area
211 - Insects, Mites, and Other Arthropods Affecting Plants; 212 - Pathogens and Nematodes Affecting Plants; 214 - Vertebrates, Mollusks, and Other Pests Affecting Plants; 213 - Weeds Affecting Plants;

Subject Of Investigation
2410 - Cross-commodity research--multiple crops;

Field Of Science
1130 - Entomology and acarology; 1060 - Biology (whole systems); 1120 - Nematology; 1101 - Virology; 1102 - Mycology; 1110 - Parasitology; 1140 - Weed science;
Goals / Objectives
The University of California, Davis serves as host of the western regional center for the National Plant Diagnostic Network(NPDN). The NPDN, working together with various federal and state agencies, has the overall goal of enhancing nationalagricultural security by safeguarding plants in agricultural and natural ecosystems. The mission of the network is to detectquickly high consequence pests and pathogens that have been introduced intentionally or accidentally, identify them, andimmediately report them to appropriate responders and decision makers. The Western Plant Diagnostic Network (WPDN)includes representatives from land grant institutions, state departments of agriculture, and the USDA/APHIS from ten westernstates (AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, NM, NV, OR, UT, and WA) and U.S. island territories in the Pacific (American Samoa, Guam,Marshall Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, and Palau).
Project Methods
1. Detection: We will continue to support, encourage, and guide the WPDN partner laboratories and staff in maintaining and, when possible, increasing capacity for diagnostics and identification as well as within the First Detector network. We will continue outreach and education about the network to state and federal decision makers, university leadership, first detectors, and major stakeholders. The WPDN training and education programs will inform WPDN collaborators on the use of content related to exotic pests and pathogens. We will continue interactions with Protect US and the Sentinel Plant Network, an effort spearheaded by the NEPDN at Cornell in partnership with the American Public Gardens Association. We will maintain the national First Detector framework and e-learning distance education platform (firstdetector.org), which has served as a basis for leveraging funds and projects in support of NPDN's mission. We will continue to publish the WPDN First Detector quarterly newsletter and, together with other regional members, will contribute to the preparation of the monthly NPDN Newsletter. We will also continue electronic delivery of information to our existing registries of first detectors to keep them engaged and updated. We will coordinate sample movement and surge, and provide all updated SOPs and protocols on a timely basis. WPDN staff and members will participate in regional and national network conference calls.2. Diagnosis: STAR-D Lab Accreditation: Although the scope of work for 2016-2017 is limited, the WPDN remains committed to supporting the continued development and application of STAR-D. The regional NVDOA lab achieved accreditation May 2015. The WPDN Associate Director will continue to disseminate the STAR-D manual and auditing checklist, and will support WPDN state laboratories by sharing documentation and guidance.Diagnostician professional development and training. At least one representative from each participating laboratory in the WPDN is expected to use Farm Bill funds, if available, to attend one professional development opportunity, when possible. Attendance for on-line training webinars is also encouraged.3. Reporting: We will collaborate with colleagues at the National Repository at CERIS as needed. All states will continue to submit their data directly to the NPDN Repository in 2016-2017. We will continue to ensure that NPDN web resources and information flow to the data repository are sustained. PDIS, DDDI data/lab management systems, and other database management systems will continue to be supported, and any technical issues related to these 3rd party systems will be supported through our licensing agreements with the vendors. Pest alerts and regional news will be disseminated via email to the regional lists.

Progress 09/01/16 to 08/31/17

Outputs
Target Audience:The WPDN target audience includes all laboratories at State Departments of Agriculture and Universities that conduct plant diagnostics in the Western Region of the National Plant Diagnostic Network, particularly the 13 laboratories that we have supported directly through subcontracts. These states are the ten western states (AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, NM, NV, OR, UT, and WA) and U.S. island territories in the Pacific (American Samoa and Guam). Additionally, we will continue to reach out to the more than 7,000 NPDN First Detectors in our region, who are agricultural professionals in industry, government, and the university as well as members of the public. We also serve local, state and federal plant health protection agencies. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?NPDN members present information in more than 536 presentations and publications to 165,364 people. WPDN members conducted 120 First Detector training sessions that were attended by 150,482 participants, including 6 formal First Detector training sessions that were attended by 925 participants. Between April 1, 2016 and March 30, 2017, 203 participants registered as First Detectors. In addition, 73 people participated in first detector on-line training. WPDN registered 276 new First Detectors between April 1, 2016 and March 31, 2017, making a total registration of 5996 First Detectors within the WPDN since the inception of the program, making a total registration of 7,000 First Detectors within the WPDN since the inception of the program. Fifteen WPDN members attended NPDN and USDA-APHIS sponsored training sessions concerning molecular and morphological identification techniques of significant pathogens. One diagnostician attended the potato cyst nematode training and nine attended the bioinformatics training, two attended the Phytophthora training, and one person attended the plum pox training. Two attended the citrus greening HLB training. WPDN diagnosticians attended a total of 65 professional development conferences and workshops on topics including weed science, entomology, pathology, invasive species, malacology, primer design and on specific disorders including bacterial leaf streak of corn, Pythium, forest diseases, seedborne plant pathogens, and joint criminal investigations in epidemiology. These workshops, along with other training opportunities, have increased the diagnostic capabilities of our regional members. NPPLAP Certification:The California Department of Food and Agriculture has 8 diagnosticians who are USDA NPPLAP certified. Three of these individuals are NPPLAP certified for the HLB bacterium, Phytophthora ramorum and plum pox virus, one is certified for HLB only, one is certified for HLB and P. ramorum, two for PPV only and one for PPV and HLB. The Nevada Department of Agriculture has one NPPLAP certified diagnostician for HLB and P. ramorum. The Oregon Department of Agriculture has two diagnosticians NPPLAP certified for P. ramorum. The University of Hawaii has 4 diagnosticians NPPLAP certified for the HLB bacterium and the University of Arizona has 1 diagnostician NPPLAP certified for the HLB bacterium. STAR D: Nevada Department of Agriculture (2015) and NMSU (2016) are Star-D Phase accredited. Two diagnosticians attended Star-D quality management workshops. Most of the remaining WPDN labs received this workshop as well as attended at least one phase 2 practice audit in the previous year and are now preparing for an accreditation audit during the next several years. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?NPDN members present information in more than 536 presentations and publications to 165,364 people. WPDN members conducted 120 First Detector training sessions that were attended by 150,482 participants, including 6 formal First Detector training sessions that were attended by 925 participants. Between April 1, 2016 and March 30, 2017, 203 participants registered as First Detectors. In addition, 73 people participated in first detector on-line training. WPDN registered 276 new First Detectors between April 1, 2016 and March 31, 2017, making a total registration of 5996 First Detectors within the WPDN since the inception of the program, making a total registration of 7,000 First Detectors within the WPDN since the inception of the program. WPDN members also attended the 4th NPDN National Meeting in Washington, D.C., March 8-12. The meeting included symposia and workshops. The presentations are posted for anyone to see and hear online http://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/npdn/presentations.html What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The WPDN will continue to strengthen its relationships with participating institutions and provide resources for diagnostic infrastructure to fund equipment, training and personnel. The funds requested for 2017-18 will continue to support salaries and training for technical staff, materials, supplies, and communications programs to foster regional goals. Staff at the WPDN regional center facilitate activities within the region by developing and overseeing administration of the regional budget including solicitation of proposals; distribution of funds; diagnostics, communications, and data-base management training; and coordination of regional meetings either in person or via teleconference. They also serve an important role for communication with state and federal agencies and the western regional state partners. Additionally, we will reduce operating costs by merging two senior positions, Associate Director and Training and Education Coordinator into one position of Associate Director, as the incumbents will be retiring in 2018. We have transitioned to a new Regional Director Dr. Neil McRoberts as the outgoing Regional Director will be retiring., Salary savings will be passed on to the subcontractor budgets.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The Western Plant Diagnostic Network is comprised of plant pest and pathogen detection specialists in the ten-state western region of the United States, including U.S. territories in the Pacific. States and territories are represented by plant pathologists, entomologists, and weed specialists at their respective land grant universities (LGU's) and/or state departments of agriculture (SDA). The WPDN also works closely with specialists in the allied disciplines of plant pathology, entomology and weed science associated with other state and federal agencies. As the region covered by WPDN is perhaps the most diverse in the nation with respect to climate and agricultural, nursery and forest production systems, a network structure was created that is comprised of three sub-regional expert/sentinel laboratories working together when necessary with the various triage laboratories at LGU's and state departments in the individual states and territories. The three expert laboratories - California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA, Sacramento, also serves as WPDN Regional Center lab), Oregon State University (Corvallis), and University of Hawaii/Hawaii Department of Agriculture (Honolulu) - are supported so that they have capabilities to handle most or all types of samples and can conduct collaborative diagnostics with other member laboratories. The WPDN regional center staff at UC Davis has developed working relationships with staff at each of the state agriculture department labs, and all the participating labs in the region are now equipped to perform plant diagnostics and to communicate findings. Laboratories associated with eighteen state institutions or agencies within our region submit data to the NPDN National Repository, although the recent severe budget cuts have hampered full participation of some of our reporting entities in this process.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Burrows, M., Thomas, C., McRoberts, N., Bostock, R.M., Coop, L., Stack, J. 2017. Coordination of diagnostic efforts in the Great Plains: Wheat virus survey and disease incidence. Plant Disease 100 (6) 1037-1318.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Blomquist, C.E., Yakabe, L.E., Rooney-Latham, S., McRoberts, N., Thomas, C.S. 2016. Detection of Phytophthora ramorum in nurseries and forest lands in California. Plant Disease 100 (1) 139-148.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: N. McRoberts, C. S. Thomas, J. K. Brown, F. W. Nutter, J. P. Stack, and R. D. Martyn. 2016. The Evolution of a Process for Selecting and Prioritizing Plant Diseases for Recovery Plans. Plant Disease 100 (4): 665-671.