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11. Exchange of Genetic Resources: Quarantine
Pages 259-278

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From page 259...
... National agencies responsible for plant quarantine may have other responsibilities, such as domestic pest control; research; pesticide registration, safety, and residue monitoring; or seed quality and labeling. Significant among the pest or pathogen introductions into North America that have been damaging to agriculture are chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitical, white pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola)
From page 260...
... Plant materials subject to restrictions may include seeds, straw, cereal hulls, THE PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESSFUL QUARANTINE Few reports have examined the challenges and opportunities of developing an effective and efficient quarantine program that addresses the needs and constraints posed by the increasing international movement of germplasm. One recent study (Plucknett and Smith, 1988)
From page 261...
... may: — ~ ~ Animal and plant quarantine regulations are similar in that they · Require import permits issued bv the anarantin~ service of the importing country (these may require the exporting country to certify that specified conditions have been met prior to shipment) ; Specify things that are prohibited from entry; Grant exceptions to the prohibitions for scientific purposes; Require inspection of imported materials upon arrival; Require appropriate treatment, if warranted, as a condition of entry; and · Require, after arrival, quarantine or isolation in an approved facility.
From page 262...
... QUARANTINE AND GLOBAL TRANSFER OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES The transfer of genetic resources has, at times, resulted in the unintended introduction of serious pests or pathogens (International Board for Plant Genetic Resources, 1988b; Plucknett and Smith, 1988~. In the 1940s more than 20 million citrus trees were lost in Argentina and Brazil because of tristeza disease from virus-infected imported nursery stock (Knorr, 1977~.
From page 263...
... These organisms, however, could readily and quickly be moved on imported articles. Quarantine services and the enforcement of biologically based regulations are the only means available to reduce the chances that such organisms might enter a country by artificial pathways.
From page 264...
... Quarantine and Genetic Resources Plant quarantine practices are frequently viewed as an impediment by those working in research, breeding, or genetic resources management. This has been particularly true for germplasm that is transferred in a vegetative form (Chiarappa and Karpati, 1984; International Board for Plant Genetic Resources, 1988b)
From page 265...
... Bean breeders at the Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (International Center of Tropical Agriculture) are severely limited in the number of seeds they can draw from the center's germplasm bank because of Colombian national quarantine restrictions (Plucknett and Smith, 1988~.
From page 266...
... State or provincial quarantine services often assist the national government in quarantine activities such as survey or export certification. The international exchange of plant genetic resources is not usually affected by state quarantines, except insofar as state officials must often be used to obtain phytosanitary certificates for export.
From page 267...
... The nature of the organisms of quarantine interest affect greatly the complexity of quarantine activities. For potatoes, methods of detection for the major bacteria, fungi, and nematodes of quarantine significance existed in 1975, when the Centro Internacional de la Papa (International Potato Center)
From page 268...
... Although potatoes originated in the Andes of South America, the late blight fungal pathogen, Phytophthora infestans, has origins elsewhere (Kahn, 1977~. Pests and Pathogens of Quarantine Significance An organism is considered to be of quarantine significance if it does not occur in the country of concern and is known to cause economic damage elsewhere or has a life cycle that suggests that it is capable of causing damage under favorable conditions.
From page 269...
... Pathways for the Entry of Pests and Pathogens Plant pests and pathogens can move or be moved along natural or artificial pathways (Table 11-2~. Some organisms have stages or life forms that enable them to survive biologic, chemical, or physical stresses and physiologic, morphologic, or anatomic characteristics that facilitate active or passive dispersal.
From page 270...
... Other factors include the effectiveness of inspection methods; the availability and effectiveness of treatments if a pest is found; the existence of the diseases or disorders in the country of origin for which the causal agent is unknown; the availability in the importing country of technical support in the form of pathologists, entomologists, and other specialists; and the ability to monitor pathogens, provide diagnostic services, and apply timely control measures. A risk analysis is an essential precursor to decisions about the importation of germplasm.
From page 271...
... Source: International Board for Plant Genetic Resources (IBPGR)
From page 272...
... 272 / Agricultural Crop Issues and Policies TABLE 11-3 Some Plant Germplasm Sources Germplasm Source Risk- or Hazard-Related Factors Collected in the wild Tubers, roots, or seeds collected in marketplaces Farms Orchards, plantations Experimental fields Experimental plots isolated from commercial plantings or located where pests are not known to occur Greenhouse with floor-level planting beds Commercial greenhouses with raised benches Research greenhouses with raised benches Plant tissue cultures, aseptic plantlet culture Approved certification From certain quarantine stations, third-country quarantine, other highcontainment locations Pest and pathogen occurrence and incidence is often unknown; no survey or control Health of mother plant is unknown; there is no foliage; material is difficult to inspect; even so, pathogens may be latent; country of origin is uncertain On average, pest control activities are relatively low or absent Often, a high level of inspection, pest survey and management, or control May have a high level of pest survey and management or control; personnel are often aware of pests, pathogens, symptoms, and signs Risk is lowered by the absence of specified pests or lower inoculum levels; survey and control are practiced; personnel are aware of pests, pathogens, and symptoms Risk is lowered by isolation and improved phytosanitation, but soilborne pests could create sanitary and management problems Risk is lowered by plant isolation and high levels of phytosanitation, survey, and control Similar to commercial greenhouses with raised benches; highly trained personnel Propagations usually have the same health status as their mother plant, insofar as obligate or fastidious pathogens are concerned, but other pests and pathogens are usually eliminated during processing; isolated from contamination Pathogen-tested plants; approved procedures; survey; phytosanitation; precautions against recontamination Plants grown under the highest levels of pest detection, eradication, phytosanitation, treatment, and isolation; no recontamination NOTE: Germplasm sources are listed in order, with the highest perceived pest risk given first.
From page 273...
... Material that arrives by mail may be held at a post office until it has been inspected by the plant quarantine service. The entry of genetic resources that are prohibited except for scientific purposes may take place through either an inspection station or some other facility named in the special permit authorizing entry.
From page 274...
... The third country may accept the risk because the crop is not grown there; the organisms of concern have narrow host ranges and are not likely to attack crops in the third country, or the organisms are not likely to become established because the environment is unfavorable. Several industrial countries have provided intermediate quarantine services in the past for specified tropical cash crops such as coffee, banana, and rubber (Hevea species)
From page 275...
... Quarantine services in developing nations are in particular need of facilities, supplies, and trained personnel (Plucknett and Smith, 1988~. International centers and established national programs can cooperate through the provision of appropriate training of germplasm and quarantine scientists and technicians.
From page 276...
... It has been suggested that, for vegetatively propagated germplasm collections, information about whether the plants have been tested for pathogens and the results of those tests should be part of the data available to quarantine officials (International Board for Plant Genetic Resources, 1988b)
From page 277...
... Finally, considerations of the costs of accidental release of a harmful pest or disease versus the benefits to be gained from the imported material should be considered. Usually, the benefits to be derived from the importation of genetic resources justify taking the risk, provided that safeguards are in place, whereas the benefits derived from commercial importations may not necessarily support taking the same risk.


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