Regulated non-quarantine pest Project

An EU funded project for the benefit of the whole EPPO region




NAME OF THE ORGANISM: Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (CORBMI)


GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE PEST

Name as submitted in the project specification (if different to the preferred name):
 

Pest category:
 
Bacteria


1- Identity of the pest/Level of taxonomic listing:

Is the organism clearly a single taxonomic entity and can it be adequately distinguished from other entities of the same rank?
 
Yes

Is the pest defined at the species level or lower?:
 
Yes

Can listing of the pest at a taxonomic level higher than species be supported by scientific reasons or can species be identified within the taxonomic rank which are the (main) pests of concern?
 
  • Not relevant: Vegetable propagating and planting material (other than seeds) sector
Is it justified that the pest is listed at a taxonomic rank below species level?
 
Yes

Conclusion:
 
  • Candidate: Vegetable propagating and planting material (other than seeds) sector
Justification (if necessary):
 
C. michiganensis is subdivided into height subspecies.
All strains of C. michiganensis pathogenic in natural conditions on tomatoes are grouped in the subspecies michiganensis. This pest is a clear, distinguished taxonomic entity. It is the causal agent of bacterial wilt and canker of tomato (EFSA-PLH, 2014). As a consequence, a listing of this pest below the species level is justified. Remark: in inoculation tests many members of the Solanaceae, including tomato and aubergines, were found to be susceptible to C. michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus (Crop Protection Compendium).
Concerning the Capsicum spp. host, natural infections have only been found on Capsicum annuum and Capsicum frutescens. The listing of the entire Capsicum genus is not justified for the vegetable sector. It should be noted that bacterial strains showing very similar canker disease symptoms to those of a strain originally classified as C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis have been isolated from pepper. The strains isolated from pepper were grouped in a separate clade from other subspecies of C. michiganensis: A new subspecies is proposed (C. michiganensis subsp. capsici) (Oh et al., 2016).

2 ā€“ Status in the EU:
 
Is this pest already a quarantine pest for the whole EU?
 
No

Presence in the EU:
 
Yes

List of countries (EPPO Global Database):
 
Bulgaria (1993); Cyprus (2005); Czech Republic (1994); France (2011); Germany (1998); Greece (2001); Greece/Kriti (1996); Hungary (2001); Italy (2013); Italy/Sicilia (1994); Italy/Sardegna (1994); Latvia (2013); Poland (2011); Romania (2011); Slovenia (1995); Spain (2016)

Conclusion:
 
candidate

Justification (if necessary):
 
Data of the presence of this pest on the EU territory are available in EPPO Global Database (https://gd.eppo.int/).

HOST PLANT NĀ°1: Solanum lycopersicum (LYPES) for the Vegetable propagating and planting material (other than seeds) sector.


Origin of the listing:
 
IIA2AWG

Plants for planting:
 
Plants intended for planting


3 - Is the pest already listed in a PM4 standard on the concerned host plant?
 
No
 
Conclusion:
 
Evaluation continues

4 - Are the listed plants for planting the main* pathway for the "pest/host/intended use" combination? (*: significant compared to others):
 
Yes
 
Conclusion:
 
Candidate

 
Justification:
 
The pathogen is seed borne and seed is considered to be the major means of long-distance dispersal. The pathogen can survive for years on seed, and a low inoculum dose of a few cells can result in transmission from seed to seedling. A few infection loci can lead to outbreaks. Transplants can also be a primary infection source and can serve as a means of long-distance dispersal. Seedlings grown from contaminated seeds can release high densities of bacteria. At production sites, pepper and tomato volunteer plants and infected soil and crop debris, in which Cmm can survive, are recognised as a source of inoculum and so most producers have through clean-up at the end of each season. Cultivation practices including clipping and pruning contribute considerably to the rapid spread of the pathogen in a crop (EFSA-PLH, 2014).
Plants for planting (including seeds) are the most important pathway of Cmm for a clean and pathogen free place of production, especially for indoor cultivation, even if the pest is present in the area.

5 - Economic impact:

Are there documented reports of any economic impact on the host?
 
Yes

Justification:
 
The pathogen is considered to be one of the most important bacterial pathogens of tomato and can be very destructive. Infections often result in high yield losses; in several cases losses of between 50 % and 100 % have been reported. However, growers and the seed industry are putting considerable efforts into preventing the introduction and dissemination of Cmm. Production systems involving integral testing tomato seed and transplants using validated protocols are used by the tomato seed companies and nurseries. These largely exclude the introduction and spread of Cmm by propagation material. This has resulted in a considerable reduction in crop damage and may be considered an effective way of controlling the disease (EFSA PLH, 2014).

What is the likely economic impact of the pest irrespective of its infestation source in the absence of phytosanitary measures? (= official measures)
 
Major

Is the economic impact due to the presence of the pest on the named host plant for planting, acceptable to the propagation and end user sectors concerned?
 
No

Conclusion:
 
Candidate

Justification:
 
The pathogen is considered to be one of the most important bacterial pathogens of tomato (EFSA PLH, 2014).

6 - Are there feasible and effective measures available to prevent the presence of the pest on the plants for planting at an incidence above a certain threshold (including zero) to avoid an unacceptable economic impact as regards the relevant host plants?
 
Yes
 
Conclusion:
 
candidate

Justification:
 
Control is mainly based on seed treatments and on hygiene and cultivation measures reducing the risk of introductions and disseminations. An effective control of the disease during production of plants for planting requires management of the entire production chain (EFSA, 2014)

7- Is the quality of the data sufficient to recommend the pest to be listed as a RNQP?
 
Yes
 
Conclusion:
 
Candidate

Justification:
 

CONCLUSION ON THE STATUS:
 
Recommended for listing as an RNQP, based on data.


8 - Tolerance level:

Is there a need to change the Tolerance level:
 
No

Proposed Tolerance levels:
 
Zero tolerance.

Justification (if necessary):
 
The threshold for a disease outbreak is low, as one infected seed in 10 000 is capable of initiating an epidemic (EFSA PLH, 2014).

9 - Risk management measures:

Is there a need to change the Risk management measure:
 
Yes

Proposed Risk management measure:
 
The plants have been grown from seeds which comply with the requirements laid down and have been maintained free from infection by appropriate hygiene measures.

Justification (if necessary):
 
Remark: these measures should also cover home grown seeds for plant production.

REFERENCES:
  • EU COM (2014) Recommendation of the Working Group on the Annexes of the Council Directive 2000/29/EC ā€“ Section II ā€“ Listing of Harmful Organisms as regards the future listing of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. Michiganensis;
  • EFSA PLH Panel (EFSA Panel on Plant Health) (2014) Scientific Opinion on the pest categorisation of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (Smith) Davis et al. EFSA Journal 2014;12(6):3721, 29 pp. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2014.3721". http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/doc/3721.pdf;
  • Oh E-J, Bae C, Lee H-B, Hwang I S, Lee H-I, Yea M C, Yim K-O, Heu S, Cha J-S & Oh C-S (2016) Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. capsici subsp. nov., causing bacterial canker disease in pepper. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology 66, 4065-4070;