EPPO Jens-Georg Unger Plant Health Fellowship 2024

Testimony from a 2024 Fellow

Nathan Hayes, Biosecurity, Government of Jersey

 

 

I was awarded the EPPO Jens-Unger Fellowship to work on two simultaneous projects with experts in the United States of America. The first project involved learning about the detection, management, and eradication of the Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis), an EPPO A2 pest, in Charleston, South Carolina.The second project involved working with pest risk analysis experts at the National Science Foundation Center for Integrated Pest Management (CIPM) at North Carolina State University.

 

Research on Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) 

I was hosted by Dr. David Coyle, an associate professor of Forest Health and Invasive species at Clemson University.

 

I was primarily based at the Charleston County active quarantine zone for ALB where I gained a thorough understanding of ALB biology, phenology, and ecology whilst learning about the strategies, past and present, used in the management of this highly invasive species in the USA.

 

I participated in oviposition research, ‘drop-and-leave’ research and techniques (funded by USDA APHIS PPQ), parasitoid research, and other field and laboratory work. I also helped write a review article, that will be published, that details the history of ALB in the United States and, specifically, the successes and failures in detection, with suggested steps for the future.

 

Some key findings from my work include:

  • The ‘drop and leave’ technique for infested host trees is a highly effective tool for dealing with ALB-infested host trees. Current research suggests that ALB does not survive followingtree felling.

  • Environmental DNA (eDNA), the genetic material left by organisms in an environment, offers a hopeful solution to improve surveillance for ALB. eDNAhas the potential to detect ALB occurrences within and outside current quarantine zones, helping to improve eradication efforts.

  • Lure trapping of ALB remains extremely difficult. Further research is required to develop an effective lure. Trapping is not being used in current surveillance.

 

Pest Risk Analysis 

I was hosted by Dr. Yu Takeuchi, Associate director for Innovations, NSF Center for Integrated Pest Management.

 

My project involved conducting a Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) for Platypus quercivorus (oak ambrosia beetle) and its fungal symbiont, the causal agent of Japanese oak wilt, Dryadomyces quercivorus (syn. Raffaelea quercivora), formerly on the EPPO Alert List.

 

The PRA area includes Jersey, the UK, and the EU so will be of great benefit to the relevant countries. The PRA will assess the risk that the oak ambrosia beetleposes to Europe, update its status, new research, and suggest appropriate phytosanitary measures following infestation. This training allowed me to learn the necessary skills to carry out pest risk analysis, which until now, Jersey has not had the expertise to perform.

 

My work in this area is still ongoing, but key findings so far include:

  • Japanese oak wilt, D. quercivorus, is spreading in Japan, with climate change a contributory factor.

  • Oak ambrosia beetle, P. quercivorus, has been found to infest and kill Quercus robur (an important European oak species).

  • Environmental suitability models show that large parts of Europe are suitable for this pest.

 

Conclusion 

The fellowship has been a highlight of my career to date. I recommend it highly to anyone who is interested. I sincerely thank EPPO for this opportunity. This experience has greatly enhanced my experience in plant health. I hope the outputs will contribute positively to plant health in Europe.