Wiley Handbook of Science and Technology for Homeland Security, 4 Volume Set

EARLY DETECTION AND DIAGNOSIS OF HIGH-CONSEQUENCE PLANT PESTS IN THE UNITED STATES

KITTY F. CARDWELL AND WILLIAM J. HOFFMAN

United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.

1 EARLY DETECTION AND DIAGNOSIS OF HIGH-CONSEQUENCE PLANT PESTS IN THE UNITED STATES

There exists well-documented historic precedent of the intentional use of biological organisms as weapons to strike against a target enemy either directly (human pathogens) or by adversely impacting its agricultural security (animal and plant pathogens) [1–3]. Government sponsored research into the development of biological weapons for use against humans, livestock, and crops was prevalent during the early decades of the twentieth century. Most government bioweapons programs included research on the culture and testing of disease agents intended specifically for use against livestock and food crops. There is concern because no elaborate delivery technologies or methods are necessary for clandestine, economically targeted bioweapon attacks on agricultural crops [2]. Many exotic plant pathogens are already highly infectious with high reproductive potential that facilitate rapid exponential epidemic development when environmental conditions are favorable [3, 4]. Furthermore, plant pathogens are generally not infectious to human handlers; inocula are available from infected crops around the world; and collection, increase, and delivery to a target crop and region is not technologically difficult. The US National Research ...