Regulated non-quarantine pest Project

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




NAME OF THE ORGANISM: Ustilago avenae (USTIAV)


GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE PEST

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

Pest category:
 
Fungi


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: Cereals (including rice) sector
Is it justified that the pest is listed at a taxonomic rank below species level?
 
Not relevant

Conclusion:
 
  • Candidate: Cereals (including rice) sector
2 – Status in the EU:
 
Is this pest already a quarantine pest for the whole EU?
 
No

Presence in the EU:
 
Yes

Conclusion:
 
candidate

Justification (if necessary):
 
This pest is present worldwide, including Europe (CABI 2016).

HOST PLANT N°1: Avena nuda (AVENU) for the Cereals (including rice) sector.


Origin of the listing:
 
RNQP Questionnaire

Plants for planting:
 
Seeds


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):
 
No
 
Conclusion:
 
Not candidate

 
Justification:
 
Avena nuda (small naked oat, hulless oat) is not listed as a host by CABI (CABI, 2016) although one reference to Ustilago avenae on this species was found, "on Avena nuda cv. Adam" (Voženílková, 1993). Avena nuda was not given in a list of species resistant or susceptible to Ustilago spp. (Bogachkov et al., 1990). With no other records since, the SEWG considered that Avena nuda is not a main pathway for the pest/host/intended use combination. No economic impact is foreseen on A. nuda.
Remark: It is not justified to extrapolate from A. sativae, unlike the case for C. purpurea which has human and animal health impacts and where a precautionary approach was taken for the host status of A. nuda.


CONCLUSION ON THE STATUS:
 
Disqualified: only one reference available for U. avenae on Avena nuda. Experts considered that there are uncertainties about the host status of A. nuda, and that plants for planting should not be considered as a significant pathway.


8 - Tolerance level:

Is there a need to change the Tolerance level:
 
No

Proposed Tolerance levels:
 
Not recommended for the RNQP status.

9 - Risk management measures:

Is there a need to change the Risk management measure:
 
No

Proposed Risk management measure:
 
Not recommended for the RNQP status.


REFERENCES:
  • Bogachkov VI, Smishchuk NG, Miroshnichenko AI, Shirokov AI & Maslenkova LI (1990) Source material and the breeding of midseason varieties of oats resistant to diseases in western Siberia. Selektsiya i semenovodstvo zernofurazhnykh kul'tur v Sibiri i na Dal'nem Vostoke, 21-33;
  • Voženílková B (1993) Biological protection of spring barley and naked oats under organic production systems. Sbornik - Jihoceska Univerzita Zemedelska Fakulta, Ceske Budejovice. Fytotechnicka Rada 10, 59-68;
  • CABI (Centre for Agricultural Bioscience International), online, 2016. Datasheets Ustilago avenae (loose smut of oats). Invasive species compendium. CABI, Wallingford, UK. Available from http://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/55931;
  • EPPO (2002) Good plant protection practice PP 2/24 (1) Oat. Bulletin OEPP/EPPO Bulletin 32, 367–369;