Volume 1, Issue 3, June 2006

NPDN NewsThe Newsletter of the National Plant Diagnostic Network

1 Volume 1, Issue 3

NationalUpdates

First Find ofSoybean Rust onSoybean in 2006Growing SeasonSoybean rust was

reported this month on soybean in asentinel plot inMartin County,Florida. This isthe first find ofsoybean rust onsoybean in the2006 growingseason. To date,in 2006, soybeanrust has beenreported in fivecounties inAlabama, 12counties inFlorida, and four

counties in Georgia. For current newsand updates about soybean rust in theU.S. please visit on the web:www.sbrusa.net, USDA Pest InformationPlatform for Extension and Education

Potato Cyst Nematode UpdateSurveys conducted as a result of theApril 19, 2006 detection of potato cystnematode (PCN) in soil collected at apotato grading station in Idaho haveresulted in the confirmation of PCN in asingle eastern Idaho field. As part of thissurvey, over 2,500 samples collectedfrom numerous fields associated with thegrading station have been tested andfound to be negative. Additionally, over

3000 soil samples collected in Idahotaken as part of the CooperativeAgricultural Pest Survey have alsobeen found negative for PCN.Production within the area of theidentified field is for fresh marketand processed potatoes only.

For more information on this updateplease visit on the web:Potato Cyst Nematode Traced to aSingle Idaho Field, USDA-APHISPress Release

Soybean rust findings in U.S. as of June2006. www.sbrusa.net

Issue Highlights:♦Significat Pest andPathogen Updates♦Call for Volunteers forNPDN Booth at APSMeeting♦NPDN Annual MeetingUpdate♦Date Set for NPDN IT/Diagnostician Meeting♦ΙΤ Updates from the PDISDevelopment Team♦NPDN Diagnostician SODPCR Training May 2006♦NPDN Education andTraining Updates♦ Second Edition of NPDNFirst Detector TrainingManual♦Regional News from theNEPDN, SPDN and WPDN

NPDN News 2s

NationalUpdates

Emerald Ash BorerConfirmed inIllinoisOn June 13, 2006 theIllinois Department of

Agriculture announced the confirmationof the emerald ash borer (EAB) inIllinois. Thediscovery of thebeetle was madeby a homeownerwho contactedthe Animal andPlant HealthInspectionService’s Illinoisfield office.Inspection of theneighborhood inwhich EAB wasdiscoveredrevealed several infected ash trees. It isuncertain as to how EAB was introducedto Illinois. Since EAB can only moveshort distances through flying, longdistance movement is dependent upontransportation on nursery stock, ash logs,branches and firewood.

For more information on theconfirmation of emerald ash borer inIllinois please visit on the web:Emerald Ash Borer Confirmed inIllinois, Illinois Department ofAgriculture Press Release

Volunteers Needed for NPDNBooth at APS MeetingKaren ScottNEPDN ITCornell University

Volunteers are needed to work theexhibit booth at the 2006 APS.CPS.MSAjoint meeting in Quebec City, Canada.The schedule has one hour blocks that

need to be filled. We need to have atleast one IT and one Diagnostician at alltimes and it would be extremely helpfulto have one Regional Director as well.The current schedule is posted (as anExcel file) on the NPDN web site under“Meeting Information.” Please check

your calendarsand let LeeDuynslager(duynslag@msu.edu)or Karen Scott(kas8@cornell.edu)know when youwould like towork the booth.

NPDNNationalMeetingDate Set

Annual Meeting Planning TeamKaren L. Snover-CliftDepartment of Plant PathologyCornell University

The Annual Meeting Planning Team ispleased to announce the NPDN NationalMeeting has been scheduled for January28-31, 2007 to be held at the WyndhamOrlando Resort in Orlando, Florida.

Start looking for details about the hotelaccommodations, the reservationprocess, and how to register for themeeting in early August on the NPDNweb site and in future issues of theNPDN News.

This meeting will take the place of theregional meetings (and will includeregional business) normally held duringthe late fall and winter months. Be sureto mark your calendars for this event!

Continued on page 3....

(Photo David Cappaert, www.forestryimages.org)

3 Volume 1, Issue 3

NationalUpdates

Continued from page 2...

Meeting ScheduleSunday, January 28, 20075:00pm Registration and Poster Set-up7:00pm-9:00pm Poster Viewing andWelcome Reception

Monday, January 29, 20078:00am-5:00pm General Session6:30pm Banquet

Tuesday, January 30, 20078:00am-12:00pm General Session1:00pm-5:00pm Subcommittee BreakOut Sessions

Wednesday, January 31, 20078:00am-2:00pm Regional Meetings2:15pm-5:00pm Town Hall andSummary Sessions5:00 Meeting Adjourns

NPDN IT/DiagnosticsMeetingPhase 2October 16-17, 2006

The NPDN Information TechnologyGroup and Diagnostic Representatives,along with some Epidemiologists, willhave a 2 day meeting in ExcelsiorSprings, Missouri to be held at the ElmsResort and Spa to discuss and developthe implementation plan of Phase 2 ofNPDN National Repository collection.After three seasons of data collection,software development, and working outmany of the ‘bugs’, more detailedinformation is sought from thediagnostic labs in order to provideenhanced models and monitoringsystems. Also, meetings are beingplanned for the morning of the 18th forthe Plant Diagnostic Information System(PDIS) and possibly some other groupdiscussions on Epidemiology, the PestList, etc. More information will followin later newsletters.

DiagnosticsSubcommitteeUpdateKaren L. Snover-CliftDepartment of PlantPathologyCornell University

The Diagnostics Subcommittee held aconference call on June 8, 2006. Duringthis meeting a number of issues wereaddress. Please refer to the NPDN website diagnostic subcommittee page (loginrequired) for complete minutes of thismeeting.

Continued on page 4.....

Wyndham Resort, Orlando, FL

DiagnosticUpdates

NPDN News 4

DiagnosticUpdates

Continued from page 3......

Topics discussed on thiscall included:•Planning for theDiagnostic section during

the NPDN National Meeting inOrlando. Members were asked tothink about subject matter wecould present in three 20 minutepresentations. Suggestionincluded:

- NPPLAP- Re-certification- Proper communication between laboratories

• Permit Issues of Compliance• Need for a tally of labs with

Biosafety cabinets• APS Soybean Rust Symposium-

Poster• Schedule of future meetings• Review of the PCR Training for

P. ramorum held in Beltsville• Standard Operating Procedures

updates being made to Ralstoniaand SOD

Phakopsora spp. ClonesAvailable to NPDN Labs forReal-Time PCRDr. Paul Vincelli from the University ofKentucky reports that they havesuccessfully cloned the amplicons fromthe USDA real-time PCR protocols fordetecting Phakopsora meibomiae andPhakopsora pachyrhizi. The idea for thecreation of these clones came from Dr.Reid Frederick when Dr. Vincelli’s groupfound they were running low on genomicDNA for use as positive controls in theirreal-time PCR tests for soybean rust.

Dr. Vincelli reports that the clonedinserts have 100% homology to therespective target species across the full

length of each amplicon, and mini-prepDNA extracted from these clones reactspositively in PCR tests. Also, theseclones can be mini-prepped to provide anunlimited supply of DNA to use forpositive controls in PCR tests for theirrespective pathogen species.

Dr. Vincelli is offering these clones toany NPDN lab that wishes them.Interested labs simply need to contact Dr.Vincelli (pvincell@uky.edu) to makearrangements to receive the clones andinstructions for handling them.

PCR Training for Sudden OakDeath, May 2006Karen RanePurdue Plant and PestDiagnostic LaboratoryPurdue University

The second 2006 Phytophthoraramorum PCR training session,coordinated by the DiagnosticsSubcommittee, was held May 23-25 atthe USDA/APHIS PPQ/CPHSTlaboratory in Beltsville, MD.

Participants included Aaron Trippe,Jennifer Falacy, Kelly Collins andWendy Kaneshiro (WPDN), Gail Ruhland Karen Rane (NCPDN),Continued on page 5....

May 2006 P. ramorum PCR trainingworkshop participants, Beltsville,MD.

5 Volume 1, Issue 3

Continued from page 4......

Shawn Butler (SPDN), Bob Marra(NEPDN) and Jason Corwin (NEPDN).

Instructor Kurt Zeller devoted the firstday to the real-time PCR protocolfor P. ramorum. Conventional doublenested and multiplex PCR protocolswere the focus of days 2 and 3, includinga session on trouble-shooting P.ramorum assay problems. The splitsession allowed participants to stay fortraining in either or both techniques asindividual needs warranted.

Education and TrainingSubcommittee UpdateAmanda HodgesEntomology and NematologyDepartmentUniversity of Florida

The NPDN Regional EducationalCoordinators met via conference call todiscuss monthly training & educationupdates. Full conference minutes can beviewed on the NPDN web site trainingand education committee page (login andpassword required).

An overview of theconference call includedthe following: •An updated

version of thesubcommittee’sgovernance document wasavailable. The governancedocument and the revised Train-the-Trainer manual were sent forfinal review to Training &Education subcommittee for theJune 19,2006 conference call.

•Questions were raised about thedifference between the EDENand NPDN training courses. Asummary document of the twocourses has been placed in arevised version of the trainingmanual.

•Will Lanier, GPDN, MontanaState University, and MaryMcKellar, NEPDN, CornellUniversity agreed to serve asco-vice chairs for thesubcommittee.

The NPDN Training & EducationSubcommittee held a conference call onJune 19, 2006. Full conference minutescan be viewed on the NPDN web sitetraining and education committee page(login and password required).

Several items were discussed during themeeting including the following:

• The Training & Education Subcommittee governance document.• The Revised NPDN First Detector Educator Training Manual• The new NPDN Training & Education web site

Continued on page 6.....

Education andTraining

May 2006 P. ramorum workshop:participants at the bench.

NPDN News 6

Continued from page 5....

• Updates to the NPDNTraining & EducationSubcommittee Web site

• The NRI Crop Biosecurity Online Learning Program

Updates to the First DetectorEducator Training ManualAmanda HodgesEntomology and NematologyDepartmentUniversity of Florida

The NPDN Training &Education Subcommitteehas implemented majorchanges to the NPDN FirstDetector Educator TrainingManual. The 2nd Edition ofthe NPDN Train-the-TrainerManual will be releasedTuesday, June 27, 2006.The updated version of thetraining manual will beavailable on the SPDN website, the new NPDN FirstDetector web page on themain NPDN portal, the new

NPDN training site, or from otherregional web pages.

Major changes to the First DetectorEducator Training Manual include thefollowing:

•Elimination of the use ofelectronic answer sheets anduniform testing. An example testbank is under development, andshould be available by July/August 2006. In the interim, theprevious uniform First Detector

and First Detector Educator testare available. As many speakersadapt First Detector training to fitlocal needs, the subcommitteevoted that uniform testing did notprovide as effective of a means tosummarize training impacts aswould a customized test. Testingis still required for First Detectorand First Detector Educatortraining, but session organizerwill be asked to report theirtraining results back to NPDN. Aweb site interface for reportingtest information will be availablein July/August 2006. For morequestions, contact your regionaleducational coordinator orAmanda Hodgesachodges@ufl.edu.

•Call for submission of neweducational materials. During2006-07, the NPDN Training &Education Subcommittee wouldlike to solicit submissions ofPowerpoint presentations,images, and accompanyinginformation on select agents orother invasive species of concernto the NPDN for the purposes ofFirst Detector training.Submission guidelines areavailable in the revised NPDNFirst Detector Training manual.A web site interface forsubmission of material to theNPDN is under construction andis anticipated to be available inAugust 2006.

•Information on both the NRICrop Biosecurity and EDENcourses.

Educationand Training

7 Volume 1, Issue 3

NPDN Education Web SiteGets New URL and OtherChangesAmanda HodgesEntomology and NematologyDepartmentUniversity of Florida

The NPDN Training & Education site ismoving from theSPDN homepage tohttp://cbc.at.ufl.edu/ .Once the web sitetransition hasoccurred, instructionalinformation will beprovided on the SPDN‘Educational Modules’page http://spdn.ifas.ufl.edu/instructional_materials.htm.

We anticipate that the web site transitionwill occur within the next couple ofweeks and prior to July 7, 2006. Duringthe week of June 26, 2006, a group ofNPDN Training & EducationSubcommittee members will meet as airregular conference call to work on areview of the web site with IT personnelto hopefully work out some of the‘kinks’ in the system.

New features that will be available onthe web site include the following: • Simplified information and

sessions search for participants.Older sessions will be archived.

• Session descriptions andadvertisements (optional) mayalso be included by instructors inthe information provided toparticipants. *Instructors-this willallow you to use the site toencourage participants to register

themselvesfor anupcomingsession.*

• Instructorswill haveaccess to participant datafrom theirsessions. Currently, thismay be viewed as a web

page but theability to uploadparticipantdata into anexcel file isunderdevelopment.• Regionaleducationalcoordinators willhave access to

training materials in theirregion.•More updates in the future!

You may also visit the new FirstDetector page on the main NPDNportal http://www.npdn.org/ (nologin or password required) for thelatest updates and First Detectornews.

NPDN First Detector RulersThe NPDN First Detector rulers fortraining relating to digital diagnosisare once again available. Please e-mail Amanda Hodgesachodges@ufl.edu for shippingrequest. Please specify quantity andshipping address.

Education andTraining

NPDN News 8

NPDN Web Site OffersMembers a Wealth ofInformation

The NPDN Web site wascreated to inform the

general public of the existence of theNational Plant Diagnostic Network(NPDN) and to facilitate NPDN

committee function,activities, andorganization. This siteserves as a clearinghouse of informationfor network members.

Web site featuresinclude:Committee Pages:These web pages werecreated to facilitateNPDN committeefunction, activities, andorganization. Membersof the NPDNcommittees have accessto their specificcommittee pagesthrough links displayedin the “NPDN Portal”box located on the left-hand side of thisscreen. Only thecommittee names

available to the user are shown asoptions for selection.

If you are a committee member orsomeone who should have access to thisarea and don’t see your committee namelisted, you have not been given accessrights and should contact your committeechairman for help in correcting thismistake.

Committee pages include committeemember contact information, committee

meeting minutes, committee relateddocuments and other announcements.

Meeting Information: This web page isused to provide details about upcomingNPDN organized meetings and requestsfor booth exhibit volunteers.

Newsletter: All NPDN newsletters arearchived on this page.

Events: Provides information onupcoming meetings of interest to ourmembership. This section lists the title,date, location, and includes links tomeeting registration pages.

Need assistance with accessing theNPDN web site? Please contact KarenScott (kas8@cornell.edu) for help.

From the PDISDevelopment TeamChanges and New FeatureRequests in PDISJayasri KrishnasamyPDIS Development TeamKansas State University

The PDIS Development team’s goal is toevolve the PDIS System to meetchanging users’ needs. Thus, PDIS hasbeen designed to accommodate requiredchanges and include new features.

The PDIS Change ManagementCommittee plays an important role inensuring that the PDIS system fulfills theusers’ requirements.

Continued on page 9.....

IT Updates

9 Volume 1, Issue 3

IT Updates

Continued from page 8......

PDIS Change Management Committeemembers are Karen Snover-Clift(NEPDN), Jan Byrne (NCPDN), WillLanier (GPDN), Joy Pierzynski (GPDN),Tom Creswell (SPDN), Will Baldwin(GPDN), Karen Scott (NEPDN) and LeeDuynslager (NCPDN). This committeehas been meeting since 2003, to discussrequested changes and new features.

PDIS users are encouraged to submittheir change requests and new featurerequests through the PDIS system to getit reviewed. If you have any questionsplease contact the PDIS softwaredevelopment team at (785)532-1836 or(785)532-1813 or email atPDIS@list.oznet.ksu.edu.

AccomplishedRequestsNagarjuna NagulapatiPDIS Development TeamKansas State University

• When viewing details of asample which is part of a sampleset, diagnosticians can nownavigate between the sample setqueue and each of the individualsamples of that set.Diagnosticians can click the“View Sample Set” link which ispresent in the top panel to takethem to the queue where othersamples of the sample set arepresent.

• When printing invoices from thebatch summary page of a sampleset, the software has beenmodified so that the system willprint the first invoice and not thesecond invoice.

• To facilitate the calculation ofturnaround time correctly forsome of the sample(s) which areanswered over the phone or inperson, a “Completed Date”textbox is provided on the“Diagnosis” tab for every sampleso that a diagnostician canchoose to enter a date instead ofthe system automaticallyassigning the completed date.

Forgot Your PDISPassword?Sharmila DabadePDIS Development TeamKansas State University

1.Enter your ‘User ID’.2.Then click on ‘Forgot yourpassword?’ button.3.You will see a message saying‘Your Password has been mailed toyour account. Open the email andfollow the instructions.’4.Check your email for password.

For more information, please clickon the ‘Help’ link under the MainMenu on www.pdis.org.

♦New PDIS Feature♦In an effort to streamline PDISsample queue management, wereleased a new Batch Archive featurefor “Completed” sample queue. Withthis feature, PDIS diagnosticians nowhave the capability of archiving anyor all of the completed sample(s) inbatch.

NPDN News 10

Did yaknow?Judy DizonPDISDevelopment TeamKansas State University

•Users will be automaticallylogged out of the system aftersixty minutes of inactivity.However, a pop-up message alertwill appear five minutes beforethe session ends so users willhave time to save their work.

•Mouse over on the icon willprovide significant information tousers on how to go about certainfeatures of the system.

National DatabaseSubcommittee UpdateKaren L. Snover-CliftDepartment of Plant PathologyCornell University

The National Database Subcommitteemet on June 14, 2006 to continue ourwork on reviewing the massive EPA Pestand Host lists and creating guidelines foruploading documents that will clarifyhow sample diagnoses should betransmitted to the National Repository atPurdue University. During this meeting anumber of issues were addressed. Pleaserefer to the NPDN web site NationalDatabase subcommittee page (loginrequired), for complete minutes of thismeeting.

Topics covered during this meetingincluded:

• Review of the draft version ofthe Diagnostician Guidelines forSample Reporting to theNational Repository.

• Review of the proposed Level ofConfidence definitions.

• Review of the Nematode EPApest codes.

• General comments on formattingof information within these codefiles.

• Host/Pest code request approvalprocess.

• Reviewing of abiotic listing andrecommendations.

The next meeting will be held on July12, 2006.

NationalDatabase

IT Updates

Updating an ExpiredPDIS PasswordSharmila DabadePDIS Development TeamKansas State University

1.After trying to log in withcorrect ‘User ID’ and‘Password’, if you get thismessage - ‘Your password hasnot been changed since the last 6months’.2.Then click on ‘ChangePassword’ button.3.It will ask you for your oldpassword (which is your currentpassword) and asks you to set upa new password.4.Then click on‘Change’buttonto change the password to newpassword.

For more information, pleaseclick on the ‘Help’ link under theMain Menu on www.pdis.org.

11 Volume 1, Issue 3

RegionalUpdatesNortheast Region:

Mary McKellarNEPDN Education and TrainingCoordinator,Cornell University

Brochures, Pest Alerts andEducational MaterialsAvailableDo you need NEPDN brochures, pestalerts or sudden oak death posters foryour next educational outreach? You canorder them by simply filling out a formand faxing it to the NEPDN regionalcenter. Available pest alerts includesudden oak death, soybean rust,Ralstonia solanacearaum andTospoviruses. The order form for thesematerials can be found on the NEPDNweb site (www.nepdn.org) under the“Marketing” link.

Southeast Region:May 2006 Virus InclusionWorkshopSandra Jensen-TracyDepartment of Plant PathologyCornell University

The 2006 Virus Inclusion Workshop washeld May 8-10 in Gainesville at theUniversity of Florida and hosted by theUniversity of Florida Plant PathologyDepartment. Participants includeddiagnosticians from various State Dept.of Agriculture and university laboratoriesfrom all over the U.S as well as fromGuam, and Manitoba, Canada.

The purpose of theworkshop was to learnhow to view virusinclusions in plantmaterial. Examination ofvirus inclusions is anolder technique that maybe useful for all types ofplants viruses. Althoughthe technique may seemantiquated, examinationof virus inclusions usingstaining techniques andlight microscopy isactually a relativelyquick and inexpensiveway to determine if ahost plant is infectedwith a virus. Thismethod allows thediagnostician to try todetermine if a virus is present insuspicious tissue before running multipleor expensive tests.

During the workshop, participantslearned how to select plant tissue, obtaina good epidermal peel, and section ofmeristematic and vein tissue. We alsolearned what the different types ofinclusions look like, what kindcorresponded with different families,where in the plant tissue these werelikely to be found, and what stainsshould or should not work on thedifferent types of inclusions.

A workbook and reference manual full ofcolor photos of virus inclusion wereavailable to take home. Additionally, allparticipants got to take home the slidesthey made to use for future reference aswell as a great “inclusion” t-shirt.

Continued on page 12.....

Participants examine virus infectedplant material using skills learnedduring workshop. (Photo CarrieHarmon)

NPDN News 12

RegionalUpdates

Continued frompage 11....

Workshop Attendeesincluded:Jennifer Chaky,

University of Nebraska, Kelly Collins,Oregon State University, David Davison,FDOACS-DPI (Gainesville)Mardi Desjardins, Manitoba Ag Food &

rural Initiatives CropDiag. Centre, Rob(John) Fisher OhioDept of Ag, DPI,Sandra Jensen-Tracy,Cornell University,Dave Johnson,.Missouri Dept of Ag,Jim Mertley UFGCREC, RosaMuchovej, UFSWREC, AnettePhibbs, University ofWisconsin, George C.Wall AES/CNASUniversity of Guam.

Workshop instruction and supportincluded:

Dr. Gail Wisler - UF/IFAS – PlantPathology, Professor & Chair,Director SPDNDr. Robert McGovern – UF/IFAS –Plant Pathology, Director, PlantDisease Clinic & Doctor of PlantMedicine ProgramDr. Carlye Baker – FDACS – DPI;Bio-Scientist IV; Plant Virologist/DiagnosticianMark Gooch – FDACS –DPI – Bio-Scientist IIIRichard Cullen UF/IFAS – PlantPathology, Plant Disease ClinicCoordinator, DiagnosticianKris Beckham - UF/IFAS – PlantPathology, Senior BiologicalScientist, Diagnostician

Anne Vitoreli - UF/IFAS – PlantPathology, Biological Scientist,DiagnosticianCarrie Harmon - UF/IFAS – PlantPathology, Asst. Director SPDN

Coleoptera Workshop,Blacksburg, VA, May 2006Amanda HodgesEntomology and Nematology Dept.University of Florida

The SPDN held an intensive taxonomicworkshop focusing on Chrysomelidae,Scolytine, and Cerambycidae beetleidentification on May 22-25, 2006.

Training focused on native and exoticpest concerns for states in the southernregion. The training was hosted by theDepartment of Entomology at theVirginia Tech campus. Eric Day,Virginia Tech University, and AmandaHodges, University of Florida/SPDNcoordinated the training.

Continued on page 13.....

Participants of 2006 Coleoptera Workshop,Blacksburg, VA. (Photo Lyle Buss, UF)

2006 Virus Inclusion WorkshopParticipants, Gainesville, FL. (PhotoCarrie Harmon)

13 Volume 1, Issue 3

RegionalUpdates

Continued from page 12....

Instructors included Ed Riley (TexasA&M University), Shawn Clark(Brigham Young University), JimLabonté (Oregon Department ofAgriculture), Rick Hoebeke (CornellUniversity), Steve Lingafelter (USDA-ARS-SEL), and Gino Nearns (Universityof Florida).

Participants were provided with a 120-page training manual on Cerambycidaebeetles, 200-300 pages of trainingmaterial on Chrysomelidae and Scolytinebeetles, and a Southeastern Scolytinescreening aid CD. The majority of theworkshop focused on instruction andhands-on identification, but an afternooncollecting trip followed by a BBQ dinnerwas also included as a mid-week breakfor instructors and participants.

Thirty-three participants from variousinstitutions including North CarolinaState University, Texas A&M University,USDA-APHIS-PPQ, Kansas StateUniversity, Virginia Department ofAgriculture & Consumer Services,University of Florida, University ofPuerto Rico, Auburn University, LSUAgCenter, EcoSolutions, Inc., Virginia

Tech, OHP, Inc., FloridaA&M University, CornellUniversity ExtensionService of SuffolkCounty, University ofTennessee Extension,County of San DiegoCalifornia, CornellUniversity, Universityof Panama, TexasCooperative Extension,West VirginiaDepartment ofAgriculture , Universityof Kentucky, Universityof Georgia, ClemsonUniversity , FloridaDepartment ofAgriculture, Division ofPlant Industry,University of Maine,and Tennessee StateUniversity attended the workshop.

Initial workshop training registrationwas limited to SPDN states, but anattempt to accommodate attendancerequests for other regionalrepresentatives, USDA-APHISidentifiers, and industry was made.

A post-workshop survey was conducted,and all responses were extremelyfavorable. Major outcomes of theworkshop included the following: 1)enhanced taxonomic skills 2) additionalregional resources for diagnostics and 3)an improved ability to network withexperts and other colleagues onidentification issues.

Rick Hoebeke (Cornell University)and Jim Zablotny (Michigan StateUniverstiy) on Field Trip (PhotoJulieta Brambila, USDA-APHIS-PPQ).

Jim Labonté teaching during ColeopteraWorkshop. (Photo: Diana Kimberling)

NPDN News 14

RegionalUpdates

Soybean RustIdentificationShort CourseOfferedThe University of

Florida and the Southern PlantDiagnostic Network would like to inviteinterested soybean professionals toparticipate in a hands-on short course onJuly 13, 2006. The North FloridaResearch and Education Center atQuincy, FL, will host up to 100agricultural professionals, consultants,and specialists for an intensiveidentification course. More informationincluding registration, schedule,transportation, and lodging details maybe found on the SPDN web site.

Western RegionCarla Thomas Department of Plant Pathology,UC Davis

HawaiiHomopteraWorkshop 2006The Western PlantDiagnostic Network,in partnership withUSDA WesternRegion Animal andPlant HealthInformation Service,Hawaii Department ofAgriculture,University of Hawaii Manoa, andCalifornia Department of Agriculturehosted a Homoptera workshop in Oahu,Hawaii January 23-24, 2006.

This workshop was scheduled just priorto the WPDN Annual Workgroup toenable a number of people to participatein both meetings. Attending the coursewere 3 participants from Guam, 6participants from Hawaii, 2 fromCalifornia and one from Nevada.

Ray Gill and Gillian Watson, CaliforniaDepartment of Food and Agriculturewere the lead instructors, and RichardHoenisch, WPDN, worked with them toorganize the course and provideassistance. Dick Tsuda and MarkWright from the University of Hawaii,Manoa, Department of Entomology andBernarr Kumashiro from the HawaiianDepartment of Agriculture also providedinstructional support and materials.

Participants learned how to build theirown keys, prepare an archival-qualityslide mount of a mealybug for expertlevel identification. They receivedinstruction on collection, identificationand preservation of scale insects,

mealybugs,whitefies, psyllidsand aphids.

WPDN 2006AnnualMeetingThe Western PlantDiagnostic Networkheld its annual 2006workgroup meetingon the island ofHawaii on Jan 25-27,2006. The meeting

was attended by 44 membersrepresenting the ten states and two of theUS Pacific Island Territories (Guam andAmerican Samoa),Continued on page 15....

Hawaii Homoptera Workshop 2006:Gillian Watson demonstrates tech-niques to participants. (Photo DickHoennisch, WPDN)

15 Volume 1, Issue 3

RegionalUpdates

Continued from page 14....

USDA Western Integrated PestManagement Center, USDA AnimalPlant Health Inspection Service, StateDepartments of Agriculture, and LandGrant Universities.

During the meeting, successes andchallenges of the past year werereviewed. The group set goals andstrategies for meeting the objectives forthe next year.

Pat Conant, with help from BernarrKumashiro, Ken Teramoto and EloiseKillgore (all from Hawaii Department ofAgriculture) organized an outstanding setof tours to complement the workgroupdiscussion sessions. During these tours,participants were able to see first handthe tremendous impact of invasiveweeds, diseases, and insects on theisland. These species included giantAfrican land snails, Erythrina gall wasp,guava scab disease, lantana leaf spot(Septoria lantanae), guava rust(Puccinia psidii), papaya ringspot, littlefire ant, banana bunchy top virus,soybean rust, exotic ginger, stingingnettle caterpillars, and several biological

control agents underdevelopment at theUSDA Forest ServiceQuarantine Facility.

These tours provided anexcellent backdrop for a fascinatingexchange of ideas and solutions duringthe workgroup sessions. A themethroughout the discussions was theparticularly challenging diversity of theNPDN’s western region and ourvulnerability to invasive species thathave a multitude of entry paths.Participants exchanged perspectives onthese issues and gained a greaterappreciation of the diversity of ourregion and the special needs of ourunique ecosystems and croppingsystems.

Ken Teramoto talks about banana bunchy topto WPDN workgroup in Hawaii. (Photo EricLaGasa)

Stinging nettle caterpillar(Photo Eric LaGasa)

National EventsJuly 29-August 2, 2006: American Phytopathological Society AnnualMeeting, Quebec City, Canada

August 13-18, 2006: National Plant Board Meeting, Milwaulkee, WI

September 25-29, 2006: 15th Ornamental Workshop on Diseases and Insects,Crossnore/Kanuga, Hendersonville, NC

October 16-17, 2006: IT-Diagnosticians Meeting, Kansas City, MO. Moreinformation to follow!

November 29 – December 1: National Soybean Rust Symposium, St. Louis, Missouri

December 10-13, 2006: Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting,Indianopolis, IN

January 28-31, 2007, NPDN National Meeting, Orlando, FL.

Regional EventsJuly 13, 2006, Soybean Rust Identification Short Course, Quincy, FL

NPDN News 16

UpcomingEvents