One thought on “Fusarium circinatum Nirenberg & O’Donnell 1998
(teleomorph Gibberella circinata)
pitch canker of pine”

1. Comments from Richard Cobb
   Vice-Chairperson, Pitch Canker Task Force

   April 26, 2022
   From: The Pitch Canker Task Force, California Forest Pest Council
   To: Heather Scheck, California Department of Food and Agriculture
   Regarding: California Pest Rating for Fusarium circinatum. Proposed permanent pest rating of “B”.
   We appreciate this opportunity to comment on the proposed California pest rating for Fusarium circinatum, cause of pitch canker. Our comments represent the views of The Pitch Canker Task Force (PCTF), (https://ufei.calpoly.edu/pitch-canker-task-force/), part of the California Forest Pest Council (www.caforestpestcouncil.org). The PCTF’s mission is to provide technical assistance to improve management of pitch canker and thereby sustain California plant health.
   The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is proposing a “B” as the first permanent rating of Fusarium circinatum. Currently the pathogen is rated “B” but on a temporary basis without a completed pest risk assessment. A “B” rated pest is “An organism of known economic importance subject to: eradication, containment, control or other holding action at the discretion of the individual county agricultural commissioner. Or, an organism of known economic importance subject to state endorsed holding action and eradication only when found in a nursery.”
   We support the proposed permanent “B” rating as a practical and beneficial level of regulatory protection against this pathogen. The remainder of this letter points out some observations and technical points for your consideration in the Pest Assessment.
   1) P. sabiniana (digger pine) on page 3. The common name “digger pine” uses a pejorative that is offensive to many people. This common name should be removed. The USDA PLANTS database uses the common name “California foothill pine”. Also, the common name “gray pine” is used by many.
   2) 2) Bishop pine. Observations of pitch canker symptoms and mortality on bishop pine (Pinus muricata) so far, particularly from Point Reyes National Seashore in Marin County up through Salt Point State Park in northern Sonoma County, indicate that the pathogen’s impacts on this pine species are likely to equal or exceed its impacts to Monterey pine. Like Monterey pine, bishop pine is a species of limited natural distribution and is a California Native Plant Society listed species of concern.
   3) 3) Shore pine (Pinus contorta ssp. contorta). Additionally, F. circinatum has been isolated from shore pine (Pinus contorta ssp. contorta) in Mendocino County. Whereas previous work by Tom Gordon, UC Davis suggested that the fungus would likely not spread significantly farther north than northern Sonoma County because of cooler prevailing temperatures, its recent confirmations
   Cal i fornia Forest Pest Counci l
   Dedicated to protecting California’s forests since 1951
   http://www.caforestpestcouncil.org
   http://www.caforestpestcouncil.org
   north of Point Arena, nearly 20 miles north of the Sonoma County line, suggest that it could spread farther than previously thought. Many pine hosts of F. circinatum, such as P. radiata, P. muricata, and P. attenuata, are largely limited to California and southern Oregon, but the distribution of P. contorta ssp. contorta stretches nearly to Alaska.
   Thanks for your continued work to protect California plant health. If you would like further assistance, please contact Ashley Hawkins at ashley.hawkins@usda.gov.
   Sincerely,
   Richard Cobb
   Vice-Chairperson, Pitch Canker Task Force
   rccobb@calpoly.edu

   Reply: Thank you for your comments and support of a B-rating for Fusarium circinatum

   1) P. sabiniana (digger pine) on page 3. I was unaware that this name was pejorative, I have changed it to California foothill pine as suggested

   2) Bishop pine and 3) Shore pine – I have added this information to the appropriate sections

   Heather Scheck, Primary State Plant Pathologist

Comments are closed.