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host specificity

Myrtle rust (eucalyptus/guava rust) caused by the fungus Puccinia psidii affects plants in the Myrtaceae family, which includes many Australian natives such as eucalypts, paperbark, bottlebrush, tea tree and lilly pilly. The disease is native to South America and was first described in 1884 in Brazil affecting guava, and more recently affecting eucalypt plantations (hence the common names guava and eucalyptus rust). P. psidii was identified as a ‘high to extreme risk’ biosecurity threat to Australia prior to its introduction here, due to the potential impacts on plant industries that rely on myrtaceous plants, and the significance of Myrtaceae in the Australian environment. A strain of Puccinia psidii (referred to as myrtle rust) was first detected on the central coast of New South Wales (NSW) in April 2010 and then quickly spread to Queensland (in December 2010) and Victoria (in December 2011), affecting more than 200 host species.

Research outcomes

This research into the epidemiology and host specificity of myrtle rust will:

  • Help inform the development of disease forecasting systems to assist in fungicide management systems for plant industries reliant on species of Myrtaceae.
  • Provide important baseline information to help gain an understanding of environments most threatened by myrtle rust allowing for development of strategic disease management programs.
  • Provide information on the strain of P. psidii present in Australia, thus improving our capabilities to detect new strains of the rust.
  • Provide information on host resistance mechanisms for the development of rapid resistance screening methods.
  • Provide crucial data for more accurate predictive modelling systems for future monitoring and impact studies for states and territories where the disease has yet to spread, and other countries where myrtle rust has not yet been detected.
  • Provide data for predicting impact levels in relation to future climate patterns within states of Australia already impacted by the disease.

Research implications 

The information and knowledge generated within this project provides the basis for other areas of research and development on this disease e.g. surveillance, population genetics, resistance breeding and monitoring impacts.

Acknowledgements

  • Dr Gordon Guymer, Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts, Queensland
  • CRCNPB
  • New South Wales Government
  • Queensland Government

PROJECT DETAILS

Status
Complete
Institution
Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation
Term
June 2011 - May 2012
Budget
$200,000

PROGRAM DETAILS

LOCATION

This project will investigate the risk of the South African Citrus Thrips in Australia expanding its host range to include commercial crops, and asses the potential of this insect to damage those crops by placing it in the context of other pest thrips species.

What is the biosecurity problem?

South African Citrus Thrips has been recently detected in Australia, but, so far its spread appears to remain confined to the weed Mother of Millions. In South Africa, however, this insect is a pest of citrus, mango and other crops, and populations in Australia have been shown to feed on these plants. This insect may have value as a weed biological control agent, but the risk it presents to relevant crop growers must be further assessed.

The main outputs of this project are to:

  • better asses the potential of South African Citrus Thrips to form new host associations
  • improve understanding of other pest thrips in Australia
  • communicate risk information to relevant stakeholders
  • publish peer reviewed literature, and
  • train a PhD student in recognising and working with Australian pest thrips. 

Who will be the end-users of your research?

The end users of this research will be fruit growers and graziers in Queensland and northern New South Wales, weeds officers, pest management professionals and research scientists.

 

STUDENT


Brian Garms
Student CRC60108: South African Citrus Thrips in Queensland - PhD

Brian.garms@anu.edu.au
Phone: 02 61254276

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PROJECT DETAILS

Status
Active
Supervisor
John Truman (ANU), Laurence Mound and Nancy Schellhorn (CSIRO)
Supervising Institution
Australian National University
Term
January 2009 – April 2011

LOCATION