Phytophthora ramorum - The Food and Environment Research ...

6.3 Hygiene
Good hygiene practice is the key to effective disease control. Remove and destroy all plant and leaf
debris from areas housing susceptible material on a regular basis. Implement routine hygiene
measures to reduce the likelihood of spread by contaminated soil or growing media, tools,
equipment or staff. Clean and disinfect tools and equipment (including chain saws) regularly with an
appropriate product; secateurs or pruning knives frequently (and always between varieties). Ideally,
tools and equipment used in affected areas of the site should be kept separate to those used
elsewhere. Control the movement of incoming plant material and potentially contaminated
machinery, footwear and water. Review procedures regularly.
Hygiene: Best Practice
This section sets out best practice covering a number of areas. These are recommended as
essential in known infected sites and advisable in all other sites where host plants are present and
where steps should be taken to minimise the possibility of introducing and spreading disease.
Contaminated leaf debris is a frequent source of disease. Ensure any plant prunings and
fallen leaf debris are collected and removed promptly, particularly from areas housing
susceptible plants and where P. ramorum/P. kernoviae has been confirmed. Ensure trailers or
similar means of transport used to move such debris are covered and that the covers (e.g. twin
sided tarpaulin) are changed, cleaned and disinfected regularly. Leaf debris is usually much
easier to blow off/collect and burn when dry. Smaller volumes of leaf/plant debris should be
collected, bagged and removed for disposal away from the main garden/park/areas.
In large garden, park or amenity situations where it may be impractical to collect all
leaf debris or where time constraints/labour resources do not allow this, ensure pathways
are kept clear of fallen leaf debris on a regular basis, particularly those subject to frequent
public access/footfall. Leaf blowers are especially useful for this task.
Solid pathways are much easier to maintain and keep clean than those made from bark chips
or similar and so are recommended for areas of greater disease risk and frequent public access.
Only propagate cutting material taken from healthy, disease free plants. If necessary, arrange
Plant Clinic disease checks for mother plants of listed hosts. These are usually chargeable and
can be undertaken at CSL* (price on application).
Wounded leaves can be more susceptible to infection, so handle plants and cutting material
with care. Try to avoid handling host plants if they might be wounded or damaged when
environmental conditions are particularly favourable to disease infection. Prune susceptible
host plants in dry weather if at all possible.
Cut foliage of host plants used in local flower show or civic displays also presents a risk in
terms of disease transfer and should be handled with care. Do not remove or use foliage from
unhealthy plants or plants under Statutory Notice and ensure standard hygiene requirements
are followed, for example regular cleaning/disinfection of knives and secateurs. Try to select
display foliage from plants that are not listed hosts.
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