From Trucks to Trays: Progress and Challenges in Phytosanitation of Inert Surfaces to Mitigate Plant Pathogen Spread

This review aims to fill a critical gap-phytosanitation methods for inert surfaces, such as farming equipment, containers, tools, and shoes, to mitigate plant pathogen establishment and expansion. Although a core component to food system security and ecosystem stability, especially for mitigating emerging pathogen impacts, this is one of the least studied disease management tools and often lacks robust science-based practices. We herein synthesize what is known about inert surface phytosanitation practices across diverse microbiological and plant pest systems and highlight opportunities for improving both phytosanitation practices and approaches used for phytosanitation science. Basic frameworks are first established for the types of plant pathogen propagules that are spread on surfaces and dispersal risks posed by key inert surface types. This is followed by a discussion of primary surface phytosanitation methods, including physical, chemical, and heat-based approaches. Case studies of nursery/greenhouse and farm equipment phytosanitation are used to demonstrate both systems-strategies for application of phytosanitation best management practices and methods for developing science-based practices using the hazard analysis for critical control points (HACCP) approach. Opportunities for growth discussed throughout include the use of pathogen-specific analyses and epidemiological modeling to improve phytosanitation science and engineering advancements to make phytosanitation practices more efficient. Taken together, it is hoped that this synthesis can both function as a resource for research/extension practitioners looking to develop and improve phytosanitation practices and provide impetus for innovation.