The discovery of a disease-causing organism at a Central Saanich nursery is the first such find in B.C. this year, said the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Island View Nursery is under quarantine after a rhododendron tested positive for an algae-like pathogen.
The Garcia family is worried millions of dollars worth of plants at their 2933 McIntyre Rd. nursery will have to be destroyed if any more samples test positive for Phytophthora ramorum.
This would wipe out their business because no compensation program is available, they say. They believe federal protocols imposed when the pathogen is found are too severe.
Inspectors took more samples at the nursery this week.
“This find is part of an ongoing inspection and surveillance program that is continuing through the year,” the agency said in a Friday email.
“Additional information concerning the number of inspections and premises that have been tested or are being tested will be provided as soon as possible.”
Testing is carried out on nurseries with plants able to serve as hosts to the pathogen. “There are 20 national survey sites planned in B.C. and 35 in Ontario with a total of 59 across Canada,” the agency said.
Island View was chosen for sampling because it fell within the criteria for target areas and sites within the P. ramorum survey protocol, it said.
Any nursery with a positive finding for P. ramorum will be monitored annually for two years once a quarantine is lifted to make sure it was eradicated, the agency said.
Last year, the agency’s testing resulted in one new finding of P. ramorum, and it was detected at five other sites subject to follow-up monitoring.
The agency is continuing its follow-up surveys and results will be known in the fall once testing wraps up.
Nurseries are the focus of testing, rather than the larger environment.
“P. ramorum poses a significant risk to Canada's plant resource base and the nursery sector. This pathogen continues to be considered a quarantine pest to Canada and many of our trading partners.”
If it became widespread, “it could impact access to Canada’s horticultural markets and have serious trade impacts,” the agency said.
Douglas fir can be a host plant for the pathogen, it said. P. ramorum can cause sudden death for some types of oaks, but Garry oaks do not appear to be susceptible, according to scientific research.
Meanwhile, Island View Nursery owners arrived at work on Friday morning to find flowers, wine and cards of support waiting for them.
A local restaurant popular with the Garcia family has offered meals, said Alexandria Garcia, daughter of nursery founder John Garcia. The kindness the family has received, “has been such a light in this sad, dark time,” she said.
Garcia expects federal inspectors will be sending samples, including water and soil, to a laboratory on Monday.
