(a) Increase Tree Requirements. Increase trees or increase
blocks shall meet all of the following requirements.
(1) Budwood for propagating increase trees shall be
obtained from a foundation or scion tree.
(2) Increase trees shall be propagated and grown in
a certified citrus nursery as specified in Subchapter D of this chapter
(relating to Citrus Nursery Stock Certification Program).
(3) Increase trees shall be budded on nursery rootstock
which has not been budded previously. If re-budding is necessary,
buds from the same source tree as the original bud shall be used.
(b) Increase Tree Structures. Increase trees must be
held exclusively in an approved structure designated for increase
trees or housed with other certified citrus nursery stock being grown
in the approved structure, provided the two groups of plants are kept
identifiably separate.
(1) At no time shall any uncertified citrus nursery
stock be inside the approved structure.
(2) Increase trees may be grown in containers or planted
in the ground.
(3) Increase trees of different varieties and selections
shall be kept distinctly apart and clearly identified to avoid the
mixing of increase trees originating from different source trees.
(c) Labeling of Increase Trees.
(1) Each lot of increase trees produced from the same
lot of budwood from a specific foundation block tree shall be labeled
for traceability with a unique identification number. The permanent
label or tag shall include the variety, source tree identification
number, and the month and year of budding.
(2) Each lot of increase trees must be of the same
cultivar, originating from the same foundation block source tree(s)
and budded in the same month and year.
(3) An increase tree identification map shall be maintained
on site. The map shall be made available during an inspection or upon
request by the department. The map must include the location of each
group of increase trees by selection in the approved structure, the
name of the selection, the number of trees in each lot, source tree
identification number, and the month and year of budding.
(d) Duration of Use of Increase Trees. Increase trees
of budwood to produce certified citrus, may be used as a source of
certified budwood to produce certified citrus nursery stock for a
period not to exceed 60 consecutive months. The 60 month duration
begins on the first day of the month following the month in which
the trees were budded.
(1) Within the citrus zone: Citrus trees propagated
from budwood that originated from increase trees shall not serve as
a future source of certified budwood.
(2) Outside of the Citrus Zone: Increase trees of noncommercial
citrus varieties (as provided in §21.39) may be used as a source
of budwood to produce certified citrus nursery stock provided the
trees meet the requirements of this section.
(e) Inspection.
(1) Testing and inspection of increase trees for pests
and diseases. Increase trees shall be inspected and tested at a minimum
of once prior to 12 months post-budding and at an interval not to
exceed 12 months for citrus tristeza and citrus greening or any other
pest of regulatory concern. The department shall collect samples for
testing according to the sampling plan, "Survey Protocol in Exclusionary
Facilities for the Interstate Movement of Citrus and Other Rutaceous
Plants for Planting from Areas Quarantined for Citrus Greening, Asian
Citrus Psyllid, and Citrus Canker," developed by the CPHST Plant
Epidemiology and Risk Analysis Laboratory of the Plant Protection
and Quarantine branch of USDA-APHIS. The cost of the laboratory analysis
of the samples shall be borne by the owner of the nursery. The department
will inspect trees for citrus canker and other pests of regulatory
concern during facility inspection.
(2) The increase block must be routinely inspected
and treated to prevent pests and diseases. The department may issue
a seizure order if a pest or disease is found. If an Asian citrus
psyllid or other disease vector is found, the contents of the structure
are subject to a seizure order based on risk assessment. The department
may consult with a panel of experts for additional mitigation measures
necessary to ensure the integrity of increase trees.
(f) Disposition of increase trees. Upon discontinuing
use of an increase tree, the increase tree must be removed from the
increase block and may be sold, planted, or destroyed.
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