Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 40-4-26-.07 - Georgia Citrus Clean Stock Program

(1) A Georgia Citrus Clean Stock Program may be initiated with the recommendation from any of the following organizations:

(a) Fort Valley State University

(b) Georgia Crop Improvement Association

(c) Georgia Department of Agriculture

(d) Georgia Seed Development Commission

(e) University of Georgia

(2) The Georgia Citrus Clean Stock Program will provide the care, maintenance, and security for all foundation trees in Georgia.

(3) Establishment of a Foundation Block

(a) Foundation block status will be considered upon written request to the Department. The request must include:

1. A physical description of the proposed site including location, size, and a map of the land to be used. A copy of the deed or lease to the property must be made available upon request by the Department;

2. Identification of the certified laboratory available to perform tests to diagnose plant pests and diseases identified in these Rules; and

3. The name and address of the person responsible for the overall operation of the foundation block.

(b) Adequate environmental controls must be in place to prevent loss of the block due to adverse environmental conditions such as damaging heat, cold, or wind.

(c) Adequate security must be maintained to protect the budwood from contamination or theft.

(d) Plants must be kept exclusively in an approved structure at a Georgia Citrus Nursery as described in these Rules.

(e) Foundation trees must be kept in secure greenhouse facility for budwood cutting and distribution to citrus nurseries.

(f) The Foundation block site must meet the requirements described in these Rules.

(g) Foundation trees must be the source for all scion trees.

(h) The trees in a foundation block must be established using one or more of the following:

1. Parent tree clones or shoot-tip grafts that have undergone treatment for diseases in a clean stock program;

2. Budwood imported directly from one or more of the following citrus clean stock program facilities:

(i) California Citrus Clonal Protection Program;

(ii) Bureau of Citrus Budwood Registration of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services;

(iii) USDA-ARS National Clonal Germplasm Repository for Citrus; or

(iv) Texas Citrus Budwood Certification Program.

(i) Budwood used to establish a foundation block must originate from trees that exhibit desirable horticultural true-to-type characteristics for the specified varieties using criteria established by one of the agencies listed above.

(j) Each tree planted in a foundation block must be assigned a unique source tree identification number consisting of block abbreviation, variety abbreviation, block number, row number, and tree number. A sign, stake, tag, or other permanent and waterproof marker must be used to associate each tree with its unique number.

(k) Any tree not exhibiting desirable horticultural characteristics for the specified variety must be immediately removed from use as a budwood source.

(4) Maintaining Foundation Block Status

(a) Trees in a foundation block must be tested by a certified laboratory to verify that foundation block trees continue to be free of diseases listed in these Rules.

(b) Records must be maintained as required by the Commissioner.

(c) At a minimum, the following measures must be taken to prevent disease contamination from internal or external sources.

1. If one or more foundation block trees become infected with a disease listed in these Rules or on the Department's website, or a vector of such disease, the affected tree(s) must be removed immediately.

2. Tools and equipment used to cut or prune foundation block trees must be used only in the foundation block and must be disinfected before use on any other tree, unless:

(i) It is impractical to restrict equipment use only to the foundation block; and

(ii) Such equipment has been treated with an antimicrobial pesticide labeled to control citrus graft transmitted pathogens or in accordance with guidelines prescribed by the Department.

3. Irrigation of the foundation block must be performed in such a manner as to minimize the risk of transmission of diseases through the irrigation system.

4. A foundation block must be completely contained in a Georgia Citrus Nursery in accordance with the requirements described in these Rules.

(5) Labeling and Handling of Budwood Produced in Foundation Block

(a) At the time of sale, each budwood piece or bundle of certified budwood must be labeled to identify the variety of the budwood, number of buds, and source tree identification number, and safeguarded from exposure to the plant pests and diseases listed in these Rules.

Notes

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 40-4-26-.07

O.C.G.A. § 2-7-1, et. seq.

Original Rule entitled "Georgia Citrus Clean Stock Program" adopted. F. Dec. 5, 2019; eff. Jan. 1, 2020, as specified by the Agency. Amended: F. May 24, 2023; eff. June 13, 2023.