U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists recently intercepted a plant pathogen not previously detected at a U.S. port of entry at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston.
CBP agriculture specialists inspect international passengers and cargo shipments and serve as the first line of defense to protect the agriculture, forest and livestock industries from the introduction of harmful pests and diseases.
CBP agriculture specialists discovered eucalyptus leaves that exhibited signs of a suspected plant disease during an inspection of baggage from New Zealand. Samples were forwarded to U.S. Department of Agriculture plant pathologists for further analysis. The USDA laboratory identified the pathogen as Davisoniella eucalypti (Mycosphaerellaceae), a fungal pathogen that poses a significant threat to Eucalyptus species.
The pathogen can cause severe defoliation and reduced growth rates. Infestation would have caused damage to U.S. timber and ornamental nursery industries and would have necessitated long-term management.
“This interception highlights the critical, frontline role our agriculture specialists play in safeguarding our nation’s agricultural resources and ecosystem,” Rod Hudson, CBP Houston Area Airports port director, said. “By identifying and stopping this pathogen at the port of entry, our CBP agriculture specialists prevented a potential threat from entering the country, demonstrating the effectiveness of our layered enforcement strategy.”