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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #325661
Title: Quarantine regulations and the impact of modern detection methods

Author
item Martin, Robert
item CONSTABLE, FIONA - Victoria State Government
item TZANETAKIS, IOANNIS - University Of Arkansas

Submitted to: Annual Review of Phytopathology
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/9/2016
Publication Date: 8/6/2016
Citation: Martin, R.R., Constable, F., Tzanetakis, I.E. 2016. Quarantine regulations and the impact of modern detection methods. Annual Review of Phytopathology. 54:189–205. doi: 10.1146/annurev-phyto-080615-100105.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: To be competitive in global markets, producers need access to the best plant varieties and cultivars available and this often means moving plants across international borders as soon as they are available. At the same time, quarantine agencies are tasked with minimizing the risk of introducing exotic pests and pathogens along with imported plant materials, with the goal to protect domestic agriculture and native flora. These two drivers, the movement of more plant material and reduced risk of pathogen introduction are at odds with each other. Improvements in next generation sequencing (NGS) and bioinformatics for data analysis have resulted in improved speed and accuracy of pathogen detection that could facilitate plant trade with reduced risk of pathogen movement. There are concerns to be addressed before NGS can replace existing tools used for pathogen detection in plant quarantine and certification programs. NGS needs to be shown to be as good as or better than current methods. Here we discuss the advantages and possible pitfalls of this technology for meeting the needs of plant quarantine and certification.