Georgia AG Finds SOD Fungus in Sample from Alpharetta Nursery 

ATLANTA (May 20) – Georgia Department of Agriculture inspectors have found the fungus that causes Sudden Oak Death in a camellia shipment to a retail nursery in Alpharetta, Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin said today.

   Commissioner Irvin advised, “If you purchased camellias recently from the John Deere Landscapes in Alpharetta, you should contact your local county extension agent or our department. Do not try to dig up a suspected infected plant or attempt to destroy it yourself.

   “We’re tracking every possible movement of these plants,” said Commissioner Irvin. “Our means of control is to prevent the infected plants from entering Georgia and we have been sampling for this disease since March of last year.”

   This detection was a result of the ongoing efforts among state and federal organizations to determine if this disease has spread from California to other states. The Sudden Oak Death pathogen is primarily spread through the movement and handling of nursery plants that are hosts for this disease. The spores of this disease can spread from infected plants to other nearby plants through splashing irrigation water or wind-blown rain. It can also be spread on soil-contaminated pots, tools, machinery and on people’s clothing or shoes. 

   Woody ornamental hosts that have been shipped to Georgia and are most likely to exhibit symptoms of disease are Camellia, Kalmia (mountain laurel), Leucothoe, Pieris, Rhododendron, and Viburnum. Any homeowner who has purchased any of these plants and notices leaf spots or plant dieback, should contact the local county agent to have the plant sampled, or call or e-mail the Georgia Department of Agriculture for the Homeowner Landscape Survey.*