Personnel hygiene and quarantine measures in a greenhouse

When tending to greenhouse crops, workers inadvertently become carriers of spores, viruses, pests, and plant debris. Pathogens easily settle on hands, tools, and work clothing. Failure to observe hygiene protocols can lead to the rapid spread of infection throughout the entire greenhouse complex.

To prevent the spread of pathogens, strict hygiene protocols must be implemented in greenhouses. This is especially important for containing pathogens such as Verticillium albo-atrum and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. dianthi. Simple negligence when moving from one greenhouse to another can ruin the entire harvest.

1. Begin any maintenance work only in healthy plantings.
2. Clean and disinfect your work knife at the end of every working day.
3. Always change your work clothing when moving to an adjacent greenhouse or to a different crop.
4. Wash work clothing regularly. To remove contamination and eliminate pathogens, a standard wash in a household washing machine with any detergent is sufficient.

Quarantine Control of Imported Planting Material

The import of unrooted cuttings and young plants is the most common pathway for the introduction of new diseases. In recent years, international import of planting material for chrysanthemums and carnations has created serious problems for flower growers. Visual inspection at the border is not always effective, as the infection is often at a latent stage without external symptoms.

For example, chrysanthemum white rust (pathogen Puccinia horiana), introduced from Japan, has now spread across almost all of Europe. Once detected, the only viable method of control is the total destruction of the infected plantings. In the UK, strict adherence to this measure allows for the successful eradication of new disease outbreaks.

A similar situation is observed with Fusarium wilt of carnations (pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. dianthi). Due to the active import of cuttings from the Mediterranean and subtropics, Fusarium has gradually displaced Phialophora wilt, which previously dominated in carnations. The main danger lies in the long latent period of the disease.

The import of infected but outwardly healthy material can only be prevented through joint efforts with suppliers. The importer must choose only those partners who guarantee the cultivation of stock plants on isolated beds. Monitoring at the propagation sites must be continuous.

• Demand official health guarantees for stock plants from suppliers.
• Organize the cultivation of stock plants on isolated beds while strictly adhering to occupational hygiene rules.
• Conduct regular and thorough inspections of nurseries with mandatory selective testing of cuttings.