This project will provide alternative eradication strategies for emergency plant pest incursions on perennial crops. It will also reduce economic costs and social impact from emergency plant pest eradication measures. The viticulture industry has been selected as an initial pilot with a focus on developing alternative pruning techniques to remove the emergency plant pest but allow enough residual plant material to ensure rapid grapevine regeneration.

What is the biosecurity problem?

The current strategy to eradicate an emergency plant pest is based partly on the removal of whole affected plants, followed by burning and burial. However, this practice incurs significant costs to industry and the community when perennial species are involved. Alternative strategies need to be developed that meet eradication goals while reducing the economic and social impact.

The main outputs of this project are to:

• conduct due diligence on current eradication strategies using responses to citrus canker, fireblight and banana freckle as case studies
• develop a research and development model system that features identification of endemic pathogens with similar biology and epidemiology to high priority target emergency plant pests and a system for the validation of eradication strategies in countries where the emergency plant pest is endemic
• develop novel alternative strategies that meet eradication goals while minimising negative economic and social impact.
• implement novel research strategies on key exotic diseases in partnership with leading international laboratories.

Who will be the end-users of this research?

Contact with industry through grower workshops and meetings throughout the project will provide important feedback on the practicality and economic advantage of proposed alternative eradication strategies. The development of strategies will be undertaken in consultation with relevant regulatory authorities. Plant Health Australia will be engaged to gain an understanding of the possible implications of the new drastic pruning strategy in the context of PLANTPLAN.

Eradication of arthropod harmful plant pest incursions has often relied on destructive technologies such as crop removal and broad spectrum pesticide application. This strategy incurs a significant cost to industry, the environment and the community. Alternative eradication strategies that reduce the economic and social impact need to be developed.

Research outcomes

Eradication technologies were reviewed including, documenting irradiation biology and inherited sterility of Light Brown Apple moth. The competiveness of sterile moths was tested and the integration of eradication technologies was also investigated.

Research implications

Sterile insect technique has an important role as a key part of new age eradication technologies but integration with pheromones and other eradication tools needs further study. which will be conducted in phase two of this project CRC40136: Insect Eradication.

Project team

Max Suckling, Greg Baker, David Williams, Lloyd Stringer, Ian Lacey, Vanessa Mitchell, Alven Soopaya, Amandip Kaur.

Acknowledgements

David Eagling’s contribution as research leader is gratefully acknowledged.

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.