Modern approaches for early detection of forest pathogens are sorely needed in the United States

Abstract Current plant regulatory protocols rely on lists of known pathogens, but many forest pathogens are unknown. Live plants are inspected at port of entry for disease symptoms, but many plant pathogens can persist asymptomatically. Current efforts should be expanded by including random sampling of both symptomatic and asymptomatic plant tissues. Molecular probes and standardized protocols could be developed for invasive forest pathogens of most concern to the United States. High‐throughput sequencing (also known as next‐generation sequencing, or NGS ) and bioinformatics could be used to identify potential pathogens in plant and soil samples collected at ports of entry from sentinel trees planted abroad, or in biosurveillance efforts. If potentially invasive forest pathogens were to be identified at ports of entry, sentinel trees, or with biosurveillance, this information must be shared with agencies that conduct forest health monitoring surveys beyond ports of entry.