Sec. 150.3. Plantings

(a) Responsibility of applicant.

The applicant shall be responsible for the selection of the location and the proper maintenance of a planting being grown under the provisions of this Part. He shall be responsible for maintaining the identity of all plant material, entered in the program, in an approved manner.

(b) Location of plantings.

Each planting shall be located in an area where contamination by soil-borne virus diseases of plants is not likely to occur. Each planting shall be located on a site previously approved by the department.

(c) Treatment of planting areas.

Treatment to eliminate soil-borne pests in a manner approved by and under the supervision of the department may be required in any planting area at any time. Annual treatment with an approved nematocide may be required in each of the following planting areas to control nematodes introduced through cultural practices.

(1) Nuclear block.

Soil, in a nuclear block planted or created following the date of the promulgation of this Part, shall be treated in a manner approved by the department before the planting of indexed plant material.

(2) Foundation nursery block.

Soil in a foundation nursery block shall be surveyed for the presence of soil-borne pests which vector virus diseases and, if detected, treated in a manner approved by the department before the planting of indexed plant materials.

(3) Foundation block.

Soil in a foundation block shall be surveyed for the presence of soil-borne pests which vector virus diseases and, if detected, treated in a manner approved by the department before the planting of plant materials.

(4) Registered block.

The department may require soil in a registered block to be surveyed for the presence of soil-borne pests which vector virus diseases and, if detected, treated in a manner approved by the department before the planting of plant materials.

(5) Certified block.

The department may require soil in a certified block to be surveyed for the presence of soil-borne pests which vector virus diseases and, if detected, treated in a manner approved by the department before the planting of plant materials.

(d) Eligibility for plantings.

(1) In a nuclear block.

To be acceptable for planting in a nuclear block, the plant material shall have been indexed and found to be free from known serious viruses.

(2) In a foundation nursery block, to be acceptable for planting in a foundation nursery block, the plant materials shall have originated in a nuclear block or shall have an equivalent known history approved by the department.

(3) In a foundation block.

To be acceptable for planting in a foundation block, the plants shall have originated in a foundation nursery block or shall have an equivalent known history approved by the department.

(4) In a registered block.

To be acceptable for planting in a registered block, the plant materials shall have originated in a foundation block or shall have an equivalent known history approved by the department.

(5) In a certified block.

To be acceptable for planting in a certified block, the plant materials shall have originated in a registered block or shall have originated from a source approved by the department.

(e) Maintenance of plantings.

Any planting entered in this program shall be kept in a vigorous growing condition, and pests shall be kept under intensive control. Suitable precautions shall be taken in cultivation, irrigation, movement, and use of equipment and other farming practices to guard against spread of soil-borne pests to plantings entered in this program. Any plants found to be off-type shall be removed from any planting in an approved manner. Plant materials, produced under the provisions of this Part shall be stored, heeled-in, or calloused in media, beds or storage area approved by the department. The department may require such treatment as may be necessary to protect against infection or infestation with pests.