Plant Pathology Unit

Posted on Nov 25, 2024 in Main

The Plant Pathology Unit (PPU) is dedicated to addressing Hawaiʻi’s agricultural and environmental biosecurity threats from plant pathogens. Specific goals of this program are listed below.

  • Provide plant pathogen diagnostic services and education of plant biosecurity threats to the public.
  • Conduct baseline statewide surveys to determine the movement of diseases into sensitive areas, based on National Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey guidelines.
  • Develop risk assessments and analyses to predict likelihood of future establishment of plant diseases and the impact to agriculture and the environment.

Plant Disease Clinic

PPU runs a plant disease clinic to assess plant inspectors with plant disease interceptions. PPU can also provide plant disease diagnostic services to the public after submitting a plant disease pest call application. Once we receive your application, we will contact you with any further questions and provide instructions on sample collection and submission.

Tropical Fruit and vegetable crop surveys

Early Detection by surveillance efforts is crucial for protecting Hawaiʻi’s agricultural from invasive plant pathogens. PPU has collaborated with the University of Hawaiʻi in conducting a plant disease survey on national priority pest targeting pathogens of tropical fruit and vegetable crops. More information on this project can be found in the following link.

Pest Alerts

HDOA New Pest Advisories

Be on the lookout

Plant Diseases of Hawaiʻi

One of PPU’s projects is to build and maintain a plant disease database of disease incidences and symptoms. The current database was built by 15 different sources starting from work headed by the Associate professor of Plant Pathology at the University of Hawaiʻi, Dr. George Parris, who compiled the first Hawaiʻi phytopathogen checklist in the Plant Disease Reporter in 1940. More information on this project can be found in the following link.

Contact

Email: [email protected]
Phone: (808) 798-1497
Office: 99-941 Hālawa Valley Street, ʻAiea, HI 96701

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