Phytophthora ramorum, the fungus-like microorganism that causes the plant disease Ramorum blight on landscape ornamentals and Sudden Oak Death on tanoaks and susceptible species of oak in western United States, was confirmed in the garden section of Sears in Portage.

The infected plant sample was collected from a species of viburnum (a common shrub) that was shipped to the store from a production nursery in Clackamas County, Oregon, in response to information provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection Quarantine (USDA APHIS PPQ).

Early detection is a key toward stopping the spread of this pathogen.

The Purdue Plant and Pest Diagnostic Lab and the IDNR request your assistance in surveying shrubs purchased from the Sears Garden Center in Portage, between April 12 and July 31. Please check the shrubs you purchased for brown or black dead areas on the leaves. Although root stress from transplant shock is the most likely factor responsible for these types of symptoms at this time, we would like to rule out the possible presence of the fungus that causes Ramorum blight.

Submit samples showing symptoms to: Plant and Pest Diagnostic Lab, 915 W. State St., Purdue University, West Lafayette IN 47907-2054

You may contact Todd Hutson, Porter County Ag and Natural Resources Extension Educator at 465-3555 ext. #26 if you have additional questions.

More information on Ramorum Blight, including photos of symptoms, can be found at the Purdue Plant and Pest Diagnostic Lab Ramorum Blight Web site: www.ppdl.purdue.edu/PPDL/SOD.html

Contact Todd Hutson, Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Educator, Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service, Porter County Administration Center, 155 Indiana Ave., Suite 301, Valparaiso, Indiana 46383-5555.

Posted 8/18/2006