HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP FC 353 05/06/1987 1984-1988 REPORT OF THE 111
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Date: April 7 , 1987
Place: Councilroom
Time: 9 :00 a .m .
Chairman and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Your Committee on Finance , to which was referred Resolution
"No. 292-87 , reports as follows:
The purpose of Resolution No . 292-87 is to transfer and appropriate
$6 ,890 out and from 010-101-5101 .52, Overlapping State/County
Functions , and credited to Research and Development Department -
Anthurium Blight .
Bacterial blight of anthurium poses a significant threat to the
anthurium industry on the Big Island . Being that the anthurium
industry is the sixth most important agricultural industry in the
state , worth $7 . 4 million annually , such a threat is a concern .
Current practice is to control the bacteria by sanitary conditions ,
removal of infected leaves or entire plants , and the application of
antibiotics . All three practices must be utilized in an integrated
fashion or the procedure will not work . A concern is that the
bacteria develops resistance to the antibiotics .
Your committee heard from Dr . John Fernandez and Professor Michael
Tanabe from the College of Agriculture, University of Hawaii at
Hilo , that they have been researching the possibility of
biologically controlling anthurium blight . Biological control is
the reduction of disease-producing activities of a pathogen by one
or more organisms . It is accomplished naturally or through
manipulation of the environment , the host plants , biological control
organisms , or manipulation of all three of those factors .
The research project is identified in two parts : Part I is to
isolate numerous organisms and screen them for antagonistic effects
against the bacteria in the laboratory; and Part II is to grow
sufficient amounts of antagonists to inoculate young, healthy
anthurium plants .
Should the research prove successful, industry personnel will be
closely consulted as to appropriate and economical methods of
utilizing the agents under commercial operations .
FC REPORT No , 353
ADOPTED : Y 6.107
r,
y - •
411 411
FC- 353 Page 2 April 7 , 1987
Your committee heard from industry personnel that previous
assistance from the County helped address a bleaching problem. The
blight conditions seem to be an aftermath of the bleaching episode
due to the weakened condition of the plants. The Legislature has
been assisting the industry with funding through the Governor 's
Committee on Agriculture. The Department of Agriculture is not
involved in this aspect of the industry problems because they lack
the personnel and capabilities . The University of Hawaii-Manoa has
been working on short-term chemical treatments; however , as
indicated earlier , the bacteria tends to develop resistance to these
chemicals .
The initial grant for Phase I of the project is coming to an end and
Phase II , for which the 46 ,890 is being requested , should be allowed
to proceed immediately thereafter . These funds are expected to last
through the next academic year .
Your Committee on Finance concurs with the intent of Resolution
No. 292-87 and recommends its adoption .
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FRANK DE LUZ III, CHAIRMAN
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LORRA NE R. J HAKU-INtUYE , .s .C. JAMT L. K. DAHLBERG, MEMBER 46
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TAKASHI DOMING•, MEMBER RUSSELL S. KOKUBUN, MEMBER
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MERLE K. LAI, MEMB:F. . CER K. SCHUTTE, MEMBER
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