Because this disease is not well understood in Alaska environmental condition, and systematic research on the cause of the disease is much needed. However, results of the preliminary survey indicated that peony growers consider the most devastating disease to be bud blast. Growers frequently attribute the death of some peony plants to winter kill. Other diseases, such as those of crown and roots remain unknown. The pathway of introduction of TRV and other pathogens to Alaska needs to be investigated. Tobacco rattle virus (TRV) is invasive to Alaska (McBeath, unpublished data). A few plants displaying the symptoms of tobacco rattle virus were found on one farm (Chastagner, 2018, personal communication). The recommended control for grey mold/Botrytis blight is frequent 17 application of chemical fungicides. in Alaska (Garfinkel, 2017, Garfinkel and Chastagner, 2018). In a study on Botrytis and other peony diseases, Garfinkel found 6 species of Botrytis and S. and the world, (Garfinkel and Chastagner, 2016). More than 25 Peony diseases were reported from the U.S. Presently, at $4 per stem, approximately 160 small peony farms are in production (down from 200), but the situation is decades away from market saturation (Auer, 2008). Peony farms, many built on virgin soil, started by using rhizomes/root stocks imported primarily from the Netherlands. Because this is the time when Alaska peonies come to bloom (Holloway et al, 2005), the potential niche market and the reputed sale value of $10 per stem attracted many investors (some of whom had no previous experience in farming). A production schedule gap-from mid-July through late-September-is left in the global supply chain. Peonies from the Southern Hemisphere (New Zealand, Chile) are available from late-September through mid-January (Garfinkel, 2017). Peonies are available from countries in the Northern Hemisphere (the Netherlands, Israel and the contiguous US states) from approximately mid-February through mid-July. Because the flowering period of peonies is fairly short, with a limited shelf-life under current technology, to provide a continuous year-round supply of peonies requires tight coordination in production globally. Growing market demand propelled peonies sales into a multimillion dollar industry. In the past decade, peonies of the herbaceous species attracted the attention of the cut-flower industry in the U.S. Peonies, the tree and herbaceous species, are famed for their large, colorful and showy flowers. In a preliminary survey conducted recently, the PI learned that diseases, especially on some farms, are a serious threat to peony cut-flower production. In the past decade, diseases have become increasingly common. Establishing an agricultural industry in Alaska is very difficult and the peony cut-flower industry is no exception. The first peony farm was established in 1996. Non Technical Summary The peony (Paeonia spp), a flowering perennial plant, is one of two new, non-traditional agricultural crops in Alaska.
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