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Young CRCNPB scientist recognised in national award

Media Release: 28 November 2008

A PhD student's commitment to plant biosecurity research has won the 2009 Northern Territory Young Australian of the Year Award.

Research to contain banana wilt infection

In less than a decade the Fusarium fungal pathogen has devastated the Northern Territory’s banana industry, although tough quarantine measures have so far protected the economically

Multiplexed immunoassays for banana viruses.

Student Project Reference: 
Publication Type  Presentation
Year of Publication  2008
Authors  Vo, J.
Meeting Name  

Biosecurity Symposium, Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries

Meeting Start Date  

November 2008

Meeting Location  

Queensland

Epidemiological and biological studies of the exotic plant pathogen Fusarium wilt of banana caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense ‘tropical’ race 4 (FocTR4)

Student Project Reference: 
Publication Type  Presentation
Year of Publication  2008
Authors  Meldrum, R.
Meeting Name  

Fusarium Meeting

Meeting Start Date  

September 2008

Epidemiological and biological studies of the exotic plant pathogen Fusarium wilt of banana caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense ‘tropical’ race 4 (Foc TR4)

Student Project Reference: 
Publication Type  Presentation
Year of Publication  2009
Authors  Meldrum, R.
Meeting Name  

NTAPPS Annual seminar day

Meeting Start Date  

April 2009

Mr Andrew Daly attended and manned a booth for the Northern Territory Department of Regional Development, Primary Industry, Fisheries and Resources at the Eighth Australian Banana Industry Congress

TRAVEL DETAILS

Researcher
DALYA
When: June 2009
Location: Queensland, Australia
Summary:

Mr Andrew Daily was given the opportunity to create awareness of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense tropical race 4 (Foc TR4) and the seriousness of this pathogen to the banana industry, while manning a booth at the Eighth Australian Banana Industry Congress.

LOCATION

Jenny Vo travelled to the University of Minnesota to meet with Professor Ben Lockhart, so he could teach her purification techniques for sugarcane bacilliform virus (SCBV).

TRAVEL DETAILS

Researcher
VOJ
When: June 2009
Location: Minnesota, USA
Summary:

Jenny Vo travelled to Minnesota to meet with world experts on badnaviruses, Professor Ben Lockhart and Dr Neil Olszewski.

LOCATION

Rachel Meldrum represented the CRC at the Eighth Australian Banana Industry Congress, where she presented her PhD research project on Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.

TRAVEL DETAILS

Researcher
MELDRUMR
When: June 2009
Location: Queensland, Australia
Summary:

Rachel Meldrum had the opportunity to present and discuss her PhD project to researchers and industry at the Eighth Australian Banana Industry Congress.

LOCATION

The Eighth Annual Banana Congress

The Eighth Annual Banana Congress was held on the Gold Coast from Thursday 4 June through to Saturday 6 June.

This research project will increase our knowledge about the epidemiology and biology of the exotic plant pathogen Fusarium wilt of banana caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense ‘tropical' race 4 (Foc TR4)

What is the biosecurity problem?

The strain Foc TR4 is already present in Australia (Darwin). However, through quarantine measures the disease has not progressed further than the outer Darwin rural area. Once Foc TR4 is introduced to a new area, establishment and further spread is rapid. Much about how the disease spreads so effectively is unknown. As yet, there are no methods of eradication of this fungus from a banana plantation. Alternative strategies need to be developed and validated that meet control and containment goals while minimising economic and social impact. This is particularly important if Foc TR4 is detected in important banana growing regions of Australia, such as Queensland, which is responsible for 95% of the Australian banana industry.

The main outputs of this project are to:

  • increase in our knowledge of the epidemiology of Foc TR4
  • Further understand of the infection processes of Foc TR4
  • develop methods for containment and control of Foc TR4

Who will be the end-users of this research?

The potential end users of the knowledge acquired in this study includes people in the banana industry as well as people involved with Primary Industries.

STUDENT


Ms Rachel Meldrum
Student CRC60097: Fusarium TR4 - PhD

rachel.meldrum@nt.gov.au
Phone: 08 8999 2247
Fax: 08 8999 2312

Read More

PROJECT DETAILS

Status
Active
Supervisor
Andrew Daly and Lucy Tran-Nguyen (DPIFM) and Elizabeth Aitken (UQ)
Supervising Institution
Northern Territory Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Resources, and The University of Queensland
Term
February 2008 - February 2011

LOCATION