Phytopthora Ramorum Survey

The Phytophthora ramorum survey, a cooperative project between Clemson-DPI and USDA-APHIS-PPQ, is intended to provide for the protection of South Carolina’s nursery, agricultural and natural environments by surveying nurseries at risk of receiving or containing P. ramorum infested plants. It is more likely that this pathogen can be eradicated from the nursery environment if it is detected early.

In addition to protecting horticulture, this survey guards our natural landscapes. Phytophthora ramorum causes a foliar blight on common nursery stock that is not necessarily fatal. However, if these host plants are then shipped, sold, and planted, the pathogen could escape to our forests and cause the bleeding cankers in oak trees known as sudden oak death.