USDA Declares Ralstonia Eradicated

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On June 11, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced the successful completion of actions taken by federal and state plant health officials to eliminate Ralstonia solanacearum race 3 biovar 2 from U.S. greenhouses. This announcement comes just two months after the pathogen was first detected on geranium (Pelargonium) in a Michigan greenhouse in April.

AmericanHort worked closely with APHIS and state officials toward the goal of a successful eradication effort with the least possible disruption of the industry during a Spring season that was already challenging due to COVID-19 pandemic-related market disruptions. In total, the response involved more than 650 facilities in 44 States. However, only a handful of operations were actually confirmed to have limited numbers of plants confirmed with the pathogen.

R. solanacearum race 3 biovar 2 can cause a wilt disease in several important agricultural crops such as potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant. This was the first confirmed case of this pathogen in U.S. greenhouses since 2004.

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