Grower News

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said the Ralstonia solanacearum race 3 biovar 2 (RS r3b2) was found in a symptomatic geranium plant in the greenhouse. (WLUK) LANSING, Mich., (WPBN/WGTU) — A bacterial pathogen that can cause a wilt disease in geraniums and several important food crops have been found in a commercial greenhouse in Michigan.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said the Ralstonia solanacearum race 3 biovar 2 (RS r3b2) was found in a symptomatic geranium plant in the greenhouse.

RS r3b2 can be transmitted through contaminated soil, irrigation water, or equipment. Once an infection is present, there is no effective chemical control to manage the disease in the plants.

“Ensuring this issue is dealt with quickly and safely is crucial to protecting the state’s agriculture economy,” said Gary McDowell, Director, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD). “Thanks to the grower’s alertness, combined with MDARD’s and USDA’s collaborative response, we have helped avert the establishment of this devastating disease into U.S. agricultural production systems.”

Investigators said the incident was first discovered by a vigilant Michigan grower who noticed unusual wilt symptoms on his geraniums and sent them for testing.

The pathogen can also affect potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and eggplants.

USDA officials said the geranium that tested positive was a Fantasia ‘Pink Flare’ variety imported from a production facility in Guatemala.

An additional 288 plant growers in 39 states have been determined to have received affected shipments from the Guatemalan facility, including 41 growers in Michigan. The impacted businesses are being notified and will be working with state and federal officials to identify and safely dispose of infected plants.

“This incident is a serious threat to our industry,” said Geoff Hansen, Executive Director of the Michigan Greenhouse Growers Council. “The affected facilities must work aggressively with MDARD to contain and eliminate this disease.”

In 2018, the wholesale value of Michigan’s floriculture industry totaled $467 million, the third-largest in the United States.

Potatoes are Michigan’s second-leading produce commodity, generating $182 million in farm gate sales each year while Michigan-grown tomatoes are valued at $35 million annually.

Source: Flower, crop bacterial pathogen found in Michigan greenhouse