Agrilus mali, a beetle pest, mainly affecting Malus species (apple trees) has been added to the UK Pest Risk Register. Currently only known to be present in parts of Asia.

The Plant Health Centre's Sector Lead for Agriculture, Prof. Fiona Burnett, delivered a presentation and led discussions on the potential impacts of pesticide withdrawals for Scotland's plant-based industries (and natural environment) at a ministerial workshop. [presentation slides attached to this article]

Even if it has not yet been detected north of the border, Scottish growers must take adequate steps to monitor growing areas for the brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys), a new potential threat to the UK’s agricultural, horticultural and forestry industries.

The Plant Health Centre have recently led a working group on behalf of Scottish Government to examine the threat to Scotland of Potato Cyst Nematode (PCN) as outlined at the Scottish Society for Crop Research (SSCR) potato Winter meeting. and recent media reports.

On Thursday 11th February 2021, with the agreement of the Devolved Administrations, Defra introduced UK-wide legislation which implements new measures for Xylella. These measures will come into force on 4th March 2021

Registrations are open for the 3rd European Conference on Xylella fastidiosa, jointly organised by EFSA and XF-ACTORS, with contributions from several other initiatives including Euphresco will be held online from 26 April to 30 April 2021 (deadline for registration of 7th March).

The British Society for Plant Pathology funded four awards for writing about the history of plant pandemics. The final reports on Huanglongbing (greening disease): citrus, Pine wilt disease, Ug99 (stem rust of wheat) and Ash Dieback can be found on the BSPP website.

A total of around 220 ha of larch are to be felled on the Scottish island of Arran in an effort to control the spread of the disease Phytophthora ramorum.

A new consortium named “CaLiber” has assembled to research the bacterial plant pathogen ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’, its insect vectors, and their potential impact on UK crops. These organisms are considered an emerging threat to agriculture in the UK and are included in the Defra Plant Health Risk Register. The CaLiber consortium have secured a £2.3M research grant funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) as part of the Bacterial Plant Disease Program and consists of researchers from FERA, SASA, John Innes Centre, Newcastle University, Rothamsted Research, and University of Strathclyde.....

A blog written by members of the Plant Health Centre's directorate and SART to highlight plant health threats to Scotland's Whisky and Gin industries has received widespread attention in the media.