ISHS Acta Horticulturae 338: VI International Workshop on Fireblight
THE POTENTIAL RISK OF FIRE BLIGHT IN MOROCCO AND THE PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES TO PREVENT ITS INTRODUCTION |
| Author: | S.A. Benzakour |
| Abstract:
During the last decade the pome fruit production area in Morocco has significantly been increased. An important part of the nursery material has been imported, mainly from European countries. Even with this constantly increasing amount of imported host plant material, Fire Blight has never been reported in Morocco. Risk assessment based on the revised Billing system has shown that the climatic conditions particularly in certain important pome fruit producting areas are favorable for the disease development. In order to prevent also in future any Fire Blight outbreak in Morocco, a series of phytosanitary measures are undertaken. All host plant imports are registered in a computerized data base. The importer is obliged to inform the plant health inspector about the location where the material is going to be planted. Systematic surveys are carried out by the regional plant protection services in order to verify freedom from Fire Blight. Whenever suspected symptoms are found, samples are analyzed in a specialised laboratory. With the aim to minimize the risk of a Fire Blight introduction, the import of certain host plant cultivars and species will be prohibited with the publication of an order of the Ministry of Agriculture. Finally, the plant protection service tries to draw the attention of fruit growers and nurserymen on the potential risk of a Fire Blight outbreak. During various meetings and via a leaflet, currently in course of preparation, they are informed about all possible measures to prevent the introduction of the disease with imported host plant material. | |
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