CRC for Plant Biosecurity - fusarium

Young CRCNPB scientist recognised in national award

K.Scott — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 03:24:46 +0000

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.

Ms Rachel Meldrum, PhD student with the Cooperative Research Centre for National Plant Biosecurity (CRCNPB) is based at the Diagnostic Services Division of the Northern Territory's Department of Regional Development, Primary Industry, Fisheries and Resources.

Ms Meldrum was nominated for her contribution to science and the sustainability of Australia's banana industry and said she was honoured and surprised to receive the award.

‘Personally, I am flattered to win the award given the calibre of the other nominees', she said.

‘It's not often that science is given this high-level platform, so I am grateful my research in the banana industry is recognised for its importance to all Australians'.

Ms Meldrum's CRCNPB project involves researching how the exotic plant disease (Fusarium wilt) is spread in the banana industry, and will also develop alternative quarantine strategies to minimise the economic and social impact of possible incursions.

CRCNPB Chief Executive Officer, Dr Simon McKirdy said the award was a credit to Ms Meldrum's enthusiasm and dedication, and paved the way for her to have a successful career in science.

‘Rachel is a great ambassador for young scientists, which is rewarding in a time when Government recognises Australia's future science capability is critical to a strong, thriving and innovative society', he said.

Dr McKirdy said the CRCNPB is committed to training high-quality postgraduate and post-doctoral scientists to provide the nucleus of Australia's future plant biosecurity capability.

‘We currently have 26 students enrolled in universities across Australia who are all conducting research to benefit the nation', he said.

In a time when biosecurity is emerging as a serious global issue, Australia's plant industries are relatively free of many of the plant pests and diseases that impact on agricultural industries in other countries.

‘Students like Rachel, and all our researchers focus on innovative research to ensure Australia's plant industries maintain their valuable competitive advantage in the market,' said Dr McKirdy.

‘The CRCNPB plays a vital role to enhance the scientific effort, enabling Australia's plant industries to pre-empt and, therefore, diminish the economic, social and environmental impact of emergency plant pests,' he said.

The CRCNPB is the central coordinating body for plant biosecurity research across all Australian states and territories and was established under the Australian Government's Cooperative Research Centres Program.

Ms Meldrum's research is supervised by staff from the Northern Territory's Department of Regional Development, Primary Industry, Fisheries and Resources and the University of Queensland.

ends

Contact: Kate Scott, Communications Officer - Cooperative Research Centre for National Plant Biosecurity

email: k.scott@crcplantbiosecurity.com.au tel: 02 6201 2882 or 0438 389 092

Interviews: Dr Simon McKirdy, Chief Executive Officer tel: 02 6201 2882 or 0438 389 092

Banana Fusarium Wilt Tropical Race 4

CRICHTONA — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:58:36 +0000

Research to contain banana wilt infection

CRICHTONA — Wed, 04 May 2011 05:13:39 +0000

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 critical Queensland industry.

Fusarium wilt is a disease common to many horticultural industries; the form that strikes bananas is commonly known as Panama disease. The first major impact of this disease was observed in Panama (Central America), where between 1890 and the mid-1950s it destroyed 40,000 hectares of banana plantations with the variety ‘Gros Michel’ banana.

A Northern Territory Primary Industry group researcher and CRC for National Plant Biosecurity PhD candidate, Rachel Meldrum, says relatively little is known about the Fusarium strain causing the problem in the Northern Territory. She says tropical race 4 of Fusarium oxyporum f. sp. cubense (Foc TR4) was detected in the Northern Territory in 1997, although the exact source of the infection remains unknown.

It was identified in a banana farm on the outskirts of Darwin and is genetically similar to the strain that devastated ‘Cavendish’ plantations developed for export in south-east Asia in the early 1990s. “The industry here was looking to expand at the time, to fill an offseason niche in production,” Ms Meldrum says.

“Production peaked in 2000, with 7,000 tonnes of production valued at $13 million. But by 2009 the industry was reduced to one-third of its original value, worth about $4 million, and most of the major growers in the Territory had left the industry,” she says.

Ms Meldrum’s PhD project aims to create a better understanding of the Foc TR4 pathogen and how it spreads, and to develop more effective control strategies.

She says there are four races of Fusarium oxyporum f.sp. cubense (Foc) known to exist, and three are pathogenic to bananas. Race 1 causes disease in ‘Lady Finger’ and ‘Gros Michel’ varieties and race 2 affects ‘Bluggoe,’ a cooking banana variety.

Race 3 is pathogenic to decorative floral and landscaping plants of the Heliconia species.

Foc Tropical race 4 is pathogenic to all commercial banana cultivars, including Cavendish, which make up 95 per cent of the $350 million Australian crop.

Race 4 is further divided: subtropical and tropical race 4. While all races of Foc are important to the Australian banana industry, the threat of Foc tropical race 4 is considered the greatest; it kills otherwise healthy plants quickly and can spread rapidly on plantations.

“We know it is a soil-borne pathogen, so we already have some recommendations for growers about steps they can take to prevent it spreading,” Ms Meldrum says.

Chief among these is the use of tissue-cultured banana plants to prevent the spread of infection. Ms Meldrum says that while it is possible for banana growers to regenerate their primary banana plants from suckers or daughter plants, the transportation of soil adhering to the plant can also transfer the pathogen.

Ms Meldrum is also investigating the role of the banana borer weevil as a possible disease vector. The borer is not a big problem for growers, particularly once banana plants are well established, but it can travel 30 metres in a day and has the potential to transfer infected soil between plants and crops.

Greater control of the borer may help eliminate one potential source of spread. Other quarantine measures being implemented include fencing for banana plantations to prevent wild animals transferring disease through the transfer of soil, and the use of washdown facilities and chemical washes.

As part of her research Ms Meldrum hopes to learn more about the epidemiology of the Foc TR4 pathogen, including how long it survives in the soil. “It is believed to survive in the soil for decades and we need to work out how it survives – does it use alternative host plants, or does it have hard spore cases that protect it?”

Tests are being conducted on two weeds common in the Northern Territory – Mission Grass and Gamba Grass – as possible alternative host plants that may be allowing the pathogen to survive long periods in the soil. Farmers also commonly grow sorghum as a cover crop on cleared land and this will also be tested as a possible host for Foc TR4.

Ms Meldrum says some banana species and cultivars with resistance to TR4 have been identified. However, none are acceptable as a commercial replacement for the Cavendish cultivars. “Our best long-term response may be to improve resistance in the commercial varieties,” she says.

To show its support to the banana industry, the Cooperative Research Centre for National Plant Biosecurity is providing sponsorship for the ninth Australian Banana Industry Congress at the Hyatt Regency on the Sunshine Coast from 1-4 June 2011. For more information, visit the banana congress website.

Fusarium wilt tropical race 4

VANMEURSA — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 05:43:30 +0000

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

VANMEURSA — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 03:54:18 +0000

International Fusarium Laboratory Workshop

VANMEURSA — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 03:48:49 +0000

Rachel Meldrum participated in the 2008 International Fusarium Laboratory Workshop. She attended the workshop to receive training in the latest morphological, genetic and molecular techniques available for the identification and characterisation of Fusarium strains.

Participation in the Fusarium Laboratory Workshop greatly enhanced Rachel’s skills in the field of plant pathology. Specifically her biosecurity skills were expanded, enabling the identification of a range of Fusarium species using different techniques. The techniques acquired from participation in the workshop included up-to-date molecular techniques as well as microscopy. These techniques will be applied to conduct research and diagnose exotic plant pathogens such as Fusarium. Fusarium Wilt disease of banana caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4 is considered to be one of the most devastating plant pathogens. At present, this fungal pathogen Foc TR4, is found in the Northern Territory and is exotic in other parts of Australia.

As part of her PhD project CRC60097: Fusarium TR4 - PhD, Rachel will isolate a range of Fusarium species, which will be morphologically similar or identical. The detailed morphological analysis information provided during the workshop will enable her to use microscopy to differentiate between morphologically similar strains. However, to differentiate between morphologically identical strains, Rachel will be able to employ newly acquired molecular tools to further the analysis for strain identification.

The workshop was conducted by six international Fusarium experts who introduced and trained participants in general techniques as well as providing information on common Fusarium species. By establishing an international collaborative network, long term collaborations will include future communications with experts from Malaysia, Norway, USA, Korea and Italy.

International Fusarium Laboratory Workshop

K.Scott — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 01:01:41 +0000

Main objective and purpose of the travel/visit and how does it relate to the objectives of the CRCNPB?

To participate in workshop where participants will be introduced to standard morphological, genetic and molecular techniques currently being used to identify and characterise Fusarium strains. Relevant for CRCNPB Program 2 Diagnostics and Program 6 Education and Training.

How will this trip advance/benefit the applicant's career?

The laboratory workshop allowed Lucy the opportunity to expand her skills level to include general identification of fungi using microscopic techniques. The workshop also provided up-to-date molecular techniques to diagnose fungal plant pathogens. Lucy was also able to extend her international collaborative networks for future Fusarium research.

What are the expected outcomes/benefits for the Australian plant biosecurity system?

New species of Fusarium aside from F. mangiferae were recently reported to cause MMD in other countries such as Brazil and Mexico. Darwin has a unique mango growing condition and with the vast array of Fusarium species occurring worldwide (more than 80 reported to date), it is likely that more than one Fusarium species or subspecies is associated with MMD in Darwin. Going offshore allowed the chance to ascertain what tropical diseases (mango as well as others) associated with Fusarium were occurring in our neighbouring countries. Thus providing information on pathogens upon our frontier as well as expanding crucial networks to allow future involvement in research of interest to Australian plant biosecurity.

The proposed outcomes of the laboratory workshop were for Lucy to be gain experience dealing with different Fusarium strains/isolates, this involved attending lectures and practical laboratory sessions. Also to establish international collaborative networks for future research involving mango and banana diseases.

The lectures and laboratory sessions provided training to maintain high skills level for research and diagnostic capability for detecting Fusarium in numerous plant diseases. Morphological and pigmentation identification was a major component of the laboratory sessions. The workshop allowed Lucy to work with different Fusarium isolates many of which are exotic to Australia. Molecular tools such as polymerase chain reaction tests targeting different genes were also used for identification. Although these tools are used on a regular basis, it was beneficial to get a "Fusarium" perspective especially in the bioinformatics analyses, phylogeny and the possible answers to the ‘what makes a species' question. The sessions covering what makes a species and the numbers or isolates required to determine or characterise a species was particularly interesting.

Analysis of likely opportunities/long term collaborations for the CRCNPB

The workshop provided an excellent opportunity for Lucy to work on exotic Fusarium isolates. Many opportunities for future collaborative projects on serious plant diseases (exotic to Australia) on crops common to Malaysia and Australia, particularly the Northern Territory (NT), were discussed. Of particular interest is Fusarium isolates associated with mango malformation disease in Malaysia. A network was established with Fusarium researchers based at University of Sains Malaysia. The University holds the largest number of Fusarium cultures in the Asian continent. Including Fusarium isolates associated with mango malformation disease. Network links were also established with other Fusarium experts from Norway, USA, Korea and Italy.

CRC60097: Fusarium TR4 - PhD

K.Scott — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:17:07 +0000