Grant Information
| Knowledge Area | Subject of Investigation | Field of Science | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 211 - Insects, Mites, and Other Arthropods Affecting Plants | 999 - Citrus, general/other | 1130 - Entomology and acarology | 50% |
| 213 - Weeds Affecting Plants | 1430 - Greens and leafy vegetables (includes endive, lettuce, spinach, turnip-greens, celery, rhubarb, parsley, asparagus) | 1140 - Weed science | 20% |
| 203 - Plant Biological Efficiency and Abiotic Stresses Affecting Plants | 1460 - Tomato | 1060 - Biology (whole systems) | 10% |
| 212 - Pathogens and Nematodes Affecting Plants | 1131 - Wine grapes | 1170 - Epidemiology | 10% |
| 214 - Vertebrates, Mollusks, and Other Pests Affecting Plants | 1440 - Cole crops (includes cabbage, kale, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kohlrabi) | 1100 - Bacteriology | 10% |
The WPDN is one of five regional diagnostic laboratory networks which together form the National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN) and provide the USA's permier diagnostic capacity for detection of harmful organisms affecting the plant component the AES Hatch Act priority areas of plant and animal production, protection and health. NPDN labs are predominantly based in Land Grant Universities within each US state and dependent territories, with some additional capacity provided by state department of agriculture labs in cases where no LGU lab exists, or where the partnership brings particular benefits to the performance of NPDN. Over the course of the period covered by the funding, NPDN regions will be working to consolidate the performance of the network and to work alongside state and federal partners to maintain the biosecurity of US plant-based economies and natural systems. In addition members of NPDN will be involved in a range of science communication activities to engage a wide audience in the important role that plant biosecurity plays in the US national economy.
Methods used in the project fall into two types: (1) technical methods used in the development of diagnostics, and; (2) management methods used in the project to deliver professional objectives. Within the first group (technical methods) it is convenient to relate the range of methods to the lab capacity tiers that were established during the strategic review. Small labs provide basic diagnostic capacity based on visual identification of specimens, backed up with basic microscopy and culturing approaches. Small Labs will also make use of off-the-shelf diagnostic test kits, such as serological lateral flow devices or simple multi-well ELISA kits. Standard Labs, provide all of the basic methods used in a Small Lab but will also routinely be able to offer DNA/RNA based identification using standard PCR, and may be able to support visualization of plant pathogens or microscopic invertebrates with more advanced microscopy approaches such as U.V. Support Labs offer all of the diagnostic approaches of Standard Labs but will also routinely have qPCR available for relevant groups of organisms and may have on-site access to sequencing facilities. Advanced microscopy approaches such as U.V. and scanning confocal imaging will also be available on site in some cases. In the second group, NPDN uses a hierarchical management structure based on collective governance to manage strategic planning and priority setting. Most decisions affecting financial resources are managed through reflective deliberation in which initial suggestions can come from any source within the NPDN membership. The committee structure is used to shape suggestions based on wide input from membership. The responsibility for gathering the input rests with the relevant committee(s) for each topic. Based on the direction provided by the committees, the Leadership Team implements tactical decisions within each funding year. With the implementation of this management method, the Executive Team has moved its focus to strategic planning and sustainability of the NPDN, but it no longer enacts executive decisions on network performance matters without consultation with membership, via the Leadership Team and committees.
Target Audience
The Western Plant Diagnostic Network (WPDN) reaches out to different target audiences involved in plant health. The WPDN main audience are the plant disease diagnostic laboratories that are members of the network. WPDN also reaches out to state and federal officials that respond/regulate, organisms of concern. WPDN members are laboratories at land-grant Universities (LGU) and State Departments of Agriculture (SDA) that conduct plant disease diagnostics in the Western Region of the National Plant Diagnostic Network. The western region includes ten western states (AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, NM, NV, OR, UT, and WA) and two U.S. island territories in the Pacific (American Samoa and Guam). States and territories are represented by plant pathologists, entomologists, and weed specialists at their respective LGU's and/or SDAs. WPDN reaches out to member laboratories to provide funding, professional advancement opportunities, and to coordinate network efforts in data reporting, detection, diagnostics, and communication. Another target audience are scientists and specialists associated with other state and federal agencies that regulate organisms of concern or that respond to plant disease epidemics. WPDN reaches out to them on a need to know basis, in order to report the detection of organisms of concern.
Changes / Problems
As explained in the 2019 NPDN Strategic Plan, the NPDN has been operating under limited funding for a number of years. During the strategic planning process, in consultation with USDA-NIFA staff, NPDN reduced its original functions to focus on three key areas of diagnostic, professional development, and communication. Along with this tightening in focus, the number of staff FTEs supported by NPDN funding has been reduced and some of the activities formerly led by paid staff have been transferred to committees of NPDN members. NPDN committees operate on largely voluntary basis. Their contribution to NPDN is considered part of the cooperative support model between USDA-NIFA and the LGU
Training & Professional Development
The WPDN Regional Center hosted the 2022 NPDN National Meeting in Davis, CA on April 26-30. The NPDN National Meeting is one of the most important networking and professional development opportunities for the diagnostic community. The NPDN meeting was attended by diagnosticians from all over the US including partner labs in State Departments of Agriculture. Despite this being the first meeting after COVID, and having some travel restrictions remaining, the meeting was attended by 136 participants. The meeting included the following seven workshops and fieldtrips organized by the regional center and CDFA (85 participants total): Arthropod Identification Macro photography for diagnostics Hemp Pest Identification Diagnostic Statistics - Sensitivity and Specificity Fungal Identification Sonoma Forest Diseases Wineries and Viniculture in California Central Valley In addition, during 2022, 23 diagnosticians from the WPDN region participated in eight training modules offered virtually by PPCDL/Beltsville lab collaboration with NPDN
Dissemination Streams
Since 2018, WPDN does not require that WPDN labs conduct first detector training, and the national First Detector program has been inactive since 2020. Communication with the plant health community is handled independently by labs according to their needs and priorities. During 2020, WPDN labs prepared 142 publications, 64 of those specific for outreach and extension audiences. They also conducted 366 presentations, most of them (275) specifically for Extension audiences. WPDN members also presented and published for scientific audiences, lead coursework, and recorded other kinds of audio and video presentation
Next Reporting Steps
Nothing Reported
Target Audience
The Western Plant Diagnostic Network (WPDN) reaches out to different target audiences involved in plant health. The WPDN main audience are the plant disease diagnostic laboratories that are members of the network. WPDN also reaches out to state and federal officials that respond/regulate, organisms of concern. WPDN members are laboratories at land-grant Universities (LGU) and State Departments of Agriculture (SDA) that conduct plant disease diagnostics in the Western Region of the National Plant Diagnostic Network. The western region includes ten western states (AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, NM, NV, OR, UT, and WA) and two U.S. island territories in the Pacific (American Samoa and Guam). States and territories are represented by plant pathologists, entomologists, and weed specialists at their respective LGU's and/or SDAs. WPDN reaches out to member laboratories to provide funding, professional advancement opportunities, and to coordinate network efforts in data reporting, detection, diagnostics, and communication. Another target audience are scientists and specialists associated with other state and federal agencies that regulate organisms of concern or that respond to plant disease epidemics. WPDN reaches out to them on a need to know basis, in order to report the detection of organisms of concern.
Changes / Problems
As explained in the 2019 NPDN Strategic Plan, the NPDN has been operating under limited funding for a number of years. During the strategic planning process, in consultation with USDA-NIFA staff, NPDN reduced its original functions to focus on three key areas of diagnostic, professional development, and communication. Along with this tightening in focus, the number of staff FTEs supported by NPDN funding has been reduced and some of the activities formerly led by paid staff have been transferred to committees of NPDN members. NPDN committees operate on largely voluntary basis. Their contribution to NPDN is considered part of the cooperative support model between USDA-NIFA and the LGUs, and part of the requirements for receiving NPDN funds and being members of NPDN. However, NPDN members have their own job responsibilities that limit the amount of time they can dedicate to the network. At an operational level, NPDN member labs already make extensive use of the networked nature of the program to achieve efficiency in diagnostic determinations and reduce duplication of effort. The extent of this networking, and the potential for further efficiency savings are the subjects of active research supported through PPA 7721 funds allocated to the WPDN Regional Center and CERIS during FY 2021-22. Together with an expert sub-contractor at the University of Texas our analyses show, for example, that in 2019 approximately 20% of all samples for which a determination was reached, moved between states for diagnosis. Hence, NPDN does not expect to be able to further reduce operating costs without losing additional biosecurity functions. As "the most critical biosecurity functions", NPDN reaffirmed its commitment to quality diagnostics and timely communications as its primary mission. To more efficiently manage NPDN operating costs, a centralized planning model (CPM) for resource allocation was implemented in 2019. The CPM allows NPDN to direct limited funds to programs of importance to the network mission and goals. Also, it provides a more equitable funding structure among labs and regions. For implementation of the CPM, the five regional centers and CERIS coordinate their work, and submit their applications as a consortium. The CPM does not result in additional cost savings, but allows NPDN to better prioritize its functions under its current funding. Despite this approach, NPDN continues to be unable to properly fund some of its core programs.
Training & Professional Development
One of the goals of NPDN is to provide training opportunities and experiential learning that accelerate the learning curve and enhance diagnostic capabilities of current and future diagnosticians. WPDN encourages diagnostician professional development and training. During 2021, COVID forced most meetings and conferences to be held virtually. Still, WPDN diagnosticians attended multiple virtual conferences and professional development activities that increased capability of their labs. These included the following: Alaska diagnosticians participated in the International Society of Arborists tree diagnosis workshops. California entomology and pathology diagnosticians participated in the AK Diptera meeting, in Germany; the Coleopterists' Society Annual Meeting; the Entomological Collections Network Annual Meeting; the Tephritidae Diagnostics Group; the 66th Annual Conference on Soilborne Plant Pathogens; the Western Extension Research Activity WERA 20, Virus and Virus-Like Diseases of Berries, Fruit and Nut Trees; the 36th Annual Tomato Disease Workshop; the Forest Pest Council Virtual Meeting. NMSU diagnosticians participated in the APS Pacific Division meeting; the American Society for Horticultural Science meeting; the Annual New Mexico Chile Conference; and the Weed Science Society of America. NVDOA attended the Technology Transfer Webinar Series for High Throughput Sequencing in Regulatory Services, Plant Certification, and International Guidelines and Practical Examples. They also conducted internal trainings in Potato wart fungus extraction from soil, and DNA-based identification of plant species from animal digestive track. OSU, NMSU and UI diagnosticians attended the virtual APS National meeting. Finally, in spring of 2021, 23 diagnosticians from WPDN labs and from SDA partner labs registered to USDA-APHIS sponsored Beltsville virtual training workshops. WPDN participants were from CDFA, NMSU, OSU, UCD, UH, UI and WSDA. Many of them registered to more than one workshop, resulting in 36 person/trainings
Dissemination Streams
One of the goals of NPDN is to ensure effective and timely communications and productive collaborations with regulatory partners, diagnostic labs, and the plant health communities. Curate and communicate quality diagnostic information that benefits plant health. Summary of diagnostic sample submission: Since 2016, WPDN took successful steps aimed at increasing the number of samples uploaded to the national repository, and remedying the problems resulting from the outdated LIMS systems and reduction in IT staffing. The implementation of the direct upload tool and discontinuing the use of DDDI, not only reduced costs, but facilitated sample upload for some labs in the network. The excel upload tool was especially useful for labs that kept a different sample tracking system and did not use the reporting or invoicing tools of the LIMS (before they had to do double entry), and for labs that submit mostly survey samples. During 2020, WPDN labs processed 338,381 samples, and submitted 115,471 samples to the NDR. A majority of the samples processed consisted of survey and screening analysis (228,560), the rest were identification analysis (109,821). The numbers of uploaded samples is lower than the number of samples processed by some labs for a number of reasons: 1) some labs do not upload samples considered sensitive by their state regulatory partners until they are allowed to do so; 2) some labs chose not to upload survey data (from unpublished research or regulatory surveys), or upload their survey data to NAPIS or other federal databases; 3) some labs do not upload data from household or human pests, samples that were not fully processed, samples that were inconclusive or un-diagnosed; and 4) labs cannot upload international samples or samples that were intercepted at border stations. Uploaded samples included 123,215 diagnoses (confirmed, suspected, undetermined, not-detected) including 120,402 pathogens, 700 arthropods, 97 nematodes, 108 plants/seeds/weeds, and 724 abiotic disorders. Of these, 108,687 diagnoses come from the biosecurity lab in the University of Hawaii. They support the potato certification program in their state, and have recently become the state surveyor for the HDOA, supporting most regulatory diagnostic work in their state. Summary of first detections: During 2021, six LGU laboratories in the WPDN acted as first responders by reporting 30 first occurrences of pests in their states or the US. These diagnoses were brought to the attention of USDA-APHIS or their respective State Department of Agriculture. They may have resulted in a regulatory action or not, but the labs felt notification was important. This count does not include 52 first detections made by NVDOA or CDFA, since most diagnosis by these two labs are conducted for regulatory purposes. Accomplishments in outreach & extension: During 2021, WPDN labs prepared 47 publications and 204 presentations related to O&E that advance the goal of educating stakeholders in their states. There were also seven appearances in radio/TV related to extension. In addition, during 2021, WPDN diagnosticians produced 131 refereed publications related to NPDN or their diagnostic work. Refereed publications include Books, Book Chapters, Conference Abstracts, Journal Articles, and Thesis/Dissertations. Finally, WPDN diagnosticians gave 28 presentations in scientific conferences, and led 12 courses and workshops related to diagnostic training.
Next Reporting Steps
WPDN member diagnosticians currently participate and provide leadership in committees that promote and develop NPDN programs that advance the goal of accurate and reliable diagnostics. The programs include in accreditation, protocols, proficiency, outreach, and professional development. During the next reporting period, WPDN members will continue participating in NPDN committees and contributing to the development of these programs. As part of their application process to request WPDN funds, WPDN labs must also include a description on how they will use WPDN funds to improve quality diagnostics in their institution. NPDN labs in each state and territory serve the role of sentinel labs and act as first responders in the case of detection of pests of concern. To produce educated and capable first responders the NPDN is developing a robust professional development program aimed at increasing the capability of the labs in the network. WPDN will continue encouraging diagnostician professional development and training. WPDN does not dictate specific activities. WPDN labs are encouraged to use WPDN funds for trainings as needed by their specific programs. As part of their application process to request WPDN funds, diagnosticians must include in their work plans, a description on how they will use these funds to attend professional development activities that benefit their lab and/or advance the network goals of quality diagnostics. As first responders, WPDN labs also engage in Outreach & Extension programs with their clientele and stakeholders. NPDN has a national Outreach & Extension (O&E) program that supports the efforts of diagnosticians to improve communications and education within their states that advance the detection goals of NPDN and their own institutions. The goals of the O&E committee are to provide resources to support diagnostician O&E programs. WPDN plays a key role in this program as champion of the committee, and is heavily involved in facilitating and advancing its mission. In addition, two WPDN members are members of the committee. The WPDN Regional Center will continue having a key role in the national reporting and communication programs that aim at advancing the goal of supplying useful, real-time data from innovative information and communication systems. As part of their application process to request WPDN funds, diagnosticians must state their commitment to submit data to the National Data Repository (NDR). WPDN staff will also continue working closely with CERIS, to prioritize and plan IT work that improve the network communications and NPDN Web Portal. In addition to reporting data to the NDR, WPDN also actively works to improve communication with regulatory partners in the event that an agent of high consequence is suspected to have been found. As part of their application process to request WPDN funds, diagnosticians must include a description on how they will use these funds to improve communication with regulatory partners in their state; and submit data to the NDR. <br><br>
<br>What was accomplished under these goals? The core goal of WPDN is to provide high quality diagnostics to support plant health communities through constant improvement and quality assurance. Since 2018, cost savings from the use of the NPDN Central Planning Model and multiple increases in budget efficiency at the regional and national level have made it possible for WPDN to support equipment purchases that increase diagnostic capacity and replace aging equipment in the region. Some of the equipment purchased with WPDN funds included: 3 real-time PCR machines, a UVP PCR workstation, a freeze drier, a microscope camera, hybridization oven, a Thermocycler, DNA extraction equipment, a spectrometer, and various small laboratory tools such as balances, shakers, stirrers, hot plates, etc. WPDN also allocated unused travel budget due to the COVID situation to the development of teaching modules that advance the accreditation program. WPDN diagnosticians continuously improved their diagnostic capabilities. The following highlights some accomplishments in diagnostics of WPDN labs during 2021. The U of Arizona lab optimized Xylella fastidiosa detection protocols for difficult pecan samples. CDFA entomologists implemented a new method of molecular diagnostics for the pest species Bactrocera carambolae to be used in case of introduction of B. carambolae to California for quick and proper diagnostics. They also added more than 15000 specimens of identified Tephritoidea the California State Collection of Arthropods. The number of species and specimens nearly doubled which significantly improved the value of this reference collection. More than 2400 sequences from more than 160 species of properly identified exotic fruit flies were uploaded to public BOLD database, more than 70 of them were included for the first time. This library allows properly identify obtained sequences and provide accurate molecular diagnostics for exotic species of fruit flies all over the world. CDFA acquired a Nanopore sequencer with NPDN funds and is adapting it for sequencing new species of plant pathogenic bacteria. CDFA scientists also developed a new assay for Fusarium sambucinum and conducted an interlaboratory comparison test with 20 labs. Shouhua Wang, director of the NVDA lab wrote the first plant diagnostic textbook using hemp as a model crop. His lab team has expanded to 7 full time employees and now runs multiple labs that cover a broad range of organisms. They have also implemented a new potato wart fungus extraction and identification protocol. The Nevada lab also upgraded qPCR system to QS5 using WPDN funds and resumed NPPLAP proficiency tests. The Oregon State University lab created or updated 34 lab protocols; purchased an Illumina MiniSeq sequencer; and purchased 2 new PCR machines, one of them with WPDN equipment funds. They are also one of three labs participating in a USDA NIFA, AFRI, FACT funded project implementing the use of whole genome sequencing in plant clinics. 28 diagnosticians in the WPDN region are currently NPPLAP certified. Most NPPLAP certifications in the region are in WPDN partner SDA labs (CDFA, 5 PRam 8 HLB; ODA, 2 PRam, WASDA, 4 Pram, 2 PPV, 1 HLB). SDA labs in the region are active partners of WPDN and contribute to the regional surge support. Two WPDN labs also have NPPLAP HLB certifications (UA, 3, and UH, 3). Nevada Department of Agriculture (2015) and NMSU (2016) are Star-D Phase accredited. Dr. Shouhua Wang is an External Star-D Auditor. These labs were granted an extension on their certification while NPDN transitions its accreditation system to the new Core Accreditation Program. Both labs are also active members of the accreditation committee and contribute to the implementation of the new Core Accreditation Program. While the new Core program was only recently released, most labs had already taken StarD accreditation training and have started completing their materials for accreditation. One lab from the University of Idaho has completed the majority of the preparations needed to request an accreditation evaluation. Five additional WPDN labs and SDA partners have started implementing quality management practices. These are CDFA, Washington State University, Oregon Department of Agriculture, University of Idaho, and Oregon State University. <br><br><b>Publications</b><br>