Phytophthora pluvialis

Phytophthora pluvialis, is a fungus-like pathogen known to affect a variety of trees including western hemlock, tanoak, pine (Pinus radiata, Pinus patula and Pinus strobus) and Douglas-fir. It was originally reported in Oregon, USA in 2013 on tanoak and Douglas fir and was subsequently identified as the pathogen responsible for ’red needle cast’ of radiata pine in New Zealand.

Phytophthora pluvialis was discovered in a woodland in Cornwall in September 2021, where it was found to be affecting mature western hemlock and Douglas-fir trees. Following extensive surveillance, further outbreaks have been found in Cornwall, Devon, Cumbria, Surrey, Shropshire and at multiple sites in Scotland and Wales. For further information on the Scotland finding and management approach please visit the Scottish Forestry website. For further information on the findings in Wales please visit the Welsh Government website.

Symptoms

Phytophthora pluvialis is known to cause needle cast, shoot dieback, and lesions on the stem, branches, and roots.

Read the symptom guide (PDF, 3.52 MB, 8 pages) which illustrates some of the symptomatic trees from which Phytophthora pluvialis has been detected in the UK.

Reporting Sightings

Please remain vigilant for signs of Phytophthora pluvialis. If you think you have spotted signs of this disease anywhere in Great Britain then please tell us using TreeAlert.

Report suspected sightings in Northern Ireland using Treecheck, the all-Ireland tree pest reporting tool.

The Plant Health (Phytophthora pluvialis) Demarcated Area Notices

A risk assessment has been done by the UK Plant Health Risk Group, which has concluded that Phytophthora pluvialis meets the criteria to be classified as a GB quarantine pest for regulatory purposes. A Pest Risk Analysis was also completed in October 2022 following public consultation. To protect England against this disease, under powers conferred by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) Regulations 2019, the Forestry Commission has introduced demarcated areas around the confirmed outbreak sites, and introduced movement restrictions on materials capable of spreading the disease using Notices.

January 2022 update

Having considered the latest information from ongoing research and monitored symptoms of the disease at infected sites, the Demarcated Areas Notices have been revised to remove movement restrictions on wood, isolated bark and trees. Movement restrictions remain in place on plants for planting within demarcated areas.

Six demarcated areas are currently in place:place in England:

Cornwall and Devon

Demarcated Area No.10No.15 Notice camecomes into force on 2124 AprilJanuary 20222023 replacing the Phytophthora pluvalis Notice No.8no. 10 (PDF, 340246 KB, 5 pages) which was issued on 414 MarchApril 2022 and applies to parts of Cornwall and Devon. The Demarcated Area No. 1015 (PDF, 1.27 MB, 1 page) covers parts of Cornwall and Devon within the boundaries shown in the demarcated area and within Phytophthora pluvalis Notice no.No. 1015 (PDF, 246 KB, 5 pages), which also contains a description of the boundaryboundary.

Cumbria

Demarcated Area No.7No.16 Notice camecomes into force on 2724 January 20222023 replacing the Phytophthora pluvalis Notice No.5No.7 (PDF, 290242 KB, 54 pages) which was issued on 320 DecemberJanuary 20212022 and applies to parts of Cumbria. The Demarcated Area No.7No.16 (PDF, 479 KB, 1 page) covers parts of Cumbria within the boundaries shown in the demarcated area and within the Phytophthora pluvalis Notice No.7No. 16 (PDF, 242244 KB, 45 pages), which also contains a description of the boundaryboundary.

Herefordshire

Demarcated Area No.9No.17 Notice camecomes into force on 24 January 2023 replacing the Phytophthora pluvalis Notice No.9 (PDF, 357 KB, 4 Marchpages) 2022.which was issued on 25 February 2022 and applied to parts of Herefordshire. The Demarcated Area No.9 No.17 (PDF, 357 KB, 1 page) covers parts of Herefordshire within the boundaries shown in the demarcated area and within the Phytophthora pluvalis Notice No.9No. 17 (PDF, 357331 KB, 4 pages), which also contains a description of the boundary.

A corresponding Demarcated Area Notice has been issued in Wales for this outbreak site.

Surrey

Demarcated Area No.13No.18 Notice comes into force on 1624 JuneJanuary 20222023 replacing Phytophthora pluvalis Notice no.No. 1113 (PDF, 285281 KB, 4 pages) which was issued on 9 June 2022 and appliesapplied to parts of Surrey. The Demarcated Area No.13No.18 (PDF, 1.57 MB, 1 page) covers parts of Surrey within the boundaries shown in the demarcated area and within the Phytophthora pluvalis Notice No. 1318 (PDF, 281277 KB, 4 pages), which also contains a description of the boundary.

Gloucestershire

Demarcated area No. 1219 camecomes in to force on 2124 January 2023 and applies to parts of Gloucestershire, replacing the Phytophthora pluvalis Notice no. 12 (PDF, 267 KB, 4 pages) which was issued on 14 April 2022 and appliesapplied to parts of Gloucestershire. The Demarcated Area No. 1219 (PDF, 1.86 MB, 1 page) covers parts of Gloucestershire within the boundaries shown in the demarcated area and within the Phytophthora pluvalis Notice no.No. 1219 (PDF, 267268 KB, 4 pages), which also contains a description of the boundary.

A corresponding Demarcated Area Notice has been issued for Wales for this outbreak site.

Shropshire

Demarcated area No. 1420 comes into force on 1624 January 2023 replacing Phytophthora pluvalis Notice No. 14 (PDF, 329 KB, 5 pages) which was issued on 9 June 2022 and appliesapplied to parts of Shropshire. The Demarcated Area No.14No.20 (PDF, 1.42 MB, 1 page) covers parts of Shropshire within the boundaries shown in the demarcated area within the the  Phytophthora pluvalis Notice No. 1420 (PDF, 329309 KB, 56 pages) which also contains a description of the boundary.

The Notices prohibit the movement of any wood,plants isolatedfor barkplanting and trees (including live trees, felled or fallen trees, fruit, seeds, leaves or foliage) of the genus Tsuga, Pseudotsuga, Pinus and Notholithocarpus, that hashave originated or are residing within the demarcated area.

Provision is made within the Notices to enable plant health inspectors to authorise movements and processing of material from the demarcated area where this can be achieved without risking the spread of Phytophthora pluvialis.

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