P-021 - Widely prevalent bacteria of the United States: APS–USDA collaboration supporting permitting efforts of APHIS PPQ and State Plant Regulatory Officials

Monday, August 4, 2025

3:45 PM - 4:30 PM HST

Location: Exhibit Hall 3

Presenting Author(s)

JF

Jacqueline Fletcher

Regents Professor Emerita
Oklahoma State University
Corrales, New Mexico, United States

Author(s)

JL

Joseph H. LaForest

Co-Director, Southern IPM Center
University of Georgia
Tifton, Georgia, United States
JH

Jong Hyun Ham

Professor
Louisiana State University Agricultural Center
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
EN

Ekaterina V. Nikolaeva

Plant Pathology Program Manager
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States
LT

Lindsay R. Triplett

Vice Director, Chief Scientist, Department Head
Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
New Haven, Connecticut, United States
AV

Anne Vidaver

Professor Emerita
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Lincoln, Nebraska, United States

Abstract Text: An agreement between the USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the American Phytopathological Society (APS) established the Widely Prevalent Pathogens Program to develop and maintain a database of plant pathogens deemed common in each state to help expedite the permitting process for research isolates. Three APS “Widely Prevalent (WP)” Committees focus on bacteria, fungi, and viruses, respectively. Committee members serve as regional coordinators, working with state plant health officials to identify commonly occurring pathogens for which streamlined permitting can reduce processing time, effort and cost. The database is used by APHIS PPQ and State Plant Regulatory Officials processing researchers’ permit requests. Each of the Widely Prevalent Bacteria (WPB) Committee’s 11 regional coordinators manages a WPB List for states/territories in a particular US region. Lists are updated periodically by coordinators working with in-state plant pathology personnel designated by the state department of agriculture. Updates reflect taxonomic/nomenclature changes or modified pathogen geographic ranges or prevalence. All WP Lists are available on the ‘Bugwood’ website maintained by the Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health at the University of Georgia. The WPB Committee also maintains close communication with the APS Bacteriology Committee for awareness of current pathogen permitting or related bacterial taxonomic issues and to assist with travel support for non-APS-member speakers in bacteriology-related Annual Meeting sessions.