The announcement of the formation of the Australian Research Council (ARC) Training Centre in Plant Biosecurity demonstrates the vital nature of this area of research to the current and future success of the forestry industry.
FWPA has long been committed to supporting biodiversity research projects throughout Australia. Here, we provide a roundup of just some of the projects in the biosecurity space that have recently been funded thanks to our support.
Combatting the potential threat to pine plantations in Australia
New research will focus on the exotic pathogen Pseudocercospora pini-densiflorae, or Cercospora Needle Disease (CND) – formerly known as Brown Needle Disease. Recently detected in Australian softwood plantations, it poses a threat to local pine plantation production, with additional risks for domestic and international markets.
The first visible signs of CND infection are the formation of light yellow/green bands around the needles, 5-10 mm long, that spread from the lower crown to the branch tips. These lesions first fade to yellow, then brown, and finally to a grey-brown colour.
Potential hosts include all Pinus species grown in plantations across Australia, although the actual level of susceptibility in some breeds is not yet clear.
The pathogen tends to cause lesions on the older needles of younger saplings aged between one and two years. For that reason, it is particularly damaging at the later nursery stage of the growing cycle.
CND has been reported in other countries as a major obstacle to the production of pine seedlings. In some pine species, including P. radiata, it has been reported to impact young plantations.
Globally, the pathogen is common but was only detected for the first time in Australia during 2021, when it was observed on P. radiata seedlings at a Christmas tree farm in north Queensland. It has since been detected in a young plantation in north Queensland and another Christmas tree farm in south-east Queensland.
This wide distribution and unidentified source means eradication is not viable at this stage. This research project will evaluate diagnostic protocols, determine disease distribution and assess the susceptibility of planting stock.
The research recently commenced as a collaborative effort between the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) Queensland, the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, the Forestry Corporation of New South Wales, and HQPlantations Pty Ltd.
Dr Geoff Pegg, Senior Principal Forest Pathologist at DAF Queensland said the fungus is difficult to establish in culture and an accurate diagnostic protocol is required for use in industry surveys.
“A draft direct sequencing protocol has already been developed by Biosecurity Queensland, but there is a need to test this across a range of host species and refine the techniques before making it available for broader use,” Pegg said.
“Understanding the distribution of the disease within Queensland and New South Wales is also a primary focus, along with determining the impacts that are occurring.”
Additionally, the research team will seek to gain a better understanding of the threat CND poses by conducting controlled screening studies and surveys of pine plantations.
“This work will be coupled with the development of a CND threat map using climate modelling to help identify the potential distribution of the pathogen and the areas where its impact is likely to be greatest,” Pegg said.
“The climate modelling will be based on the known global distribution.”
Developing rapid diagnostic protocols for forest biosecurity surveillance
The increasing risk of invasion from exotic forest pests and pathogens, coupled with a decline in Australia’s technical capacity in forest biosecurity, means there is an urgent need to develop rapid and reliable diagnostic protocols.
A research team is set to evaluate work that is looking to do exactly that, by evaluating current overseas diagnostic protocols and consider their potential usefulness and application in the Australian context, while also developing new protocols for high priority pests and pathogens.
Leading the work is Dr Angus Carnegie, Senior Research Scientist at the NSW Department of Primary Industries, who said the team will investigate species-specific and general diagnostic procedures, as well as environmental DNA (eDNA) approaches to enhance the detection of target and non-target species.
“This broad approach will provide us with the capability to monitor for endemic and established populations, while simultaneously screening for new exotic pests and diseases,” Carnegie said.
During the two-year project, the team will target pests and pathogens that pose a threat to both Pinus and Eucalyptus. The work will involve laboratory testing of diagnostic protocols, while ensuring all samples collected during surveillance are accurately and efficiently diagnosed.
The main use of these protocols will be within diagnostic laboratories, but the project will also investigate in-field rapid diagnostics to help enhance response capabilities.
“We hope the outcomes of this work will provide confidence to the forestry industry that diagnostics of samples collected during forest health and biosecurity surveillance will effectively detect exotic pests and enable an adequate and timely response in the event of an invasive pest incursion,” Carnegie said.
Improving social licence for tree removal during pest eradication programs
Tree removal is usually the only feasible, cost-effective means of eradication where the tree is host to one of the many exotic pests identified as high priority for Australia’s forestry and horticulture sectors. Social or community acceptance of tree removal in urban landscapes is essential to ensure efficient and effective eradication programs.
Dr Angus Carnegie, Senior Research Scientist at the NSW Department of Primary Industry, recalled an unsuccessful attempt to eradicate a Giant Pine Scale incursion in Melbourne. He said this demonstrated how social acceptance for felling trees is not automatic and can become a contentious issue.
“It was a lack of social acceptance that ended up being the primary reason for the ultimate termination of that particular eradication program,” Carnegie said.
As part of a recently commenced 12-month project, a team of researchers led by Carnegie will conduct a literary review of social science and participatory research to gauge current public acceptance of tree removal in urban landscapes during an eradication response.
They will also develop an understanding of the various perspectives around community acceptance for tree removal by hosting focus groups and workshops with a broad range of urban stakeholders.
The team will use the knowledge gained through this research to develop an engagement toolbox including communications materials and guidelines for biosecurity agencies and other stakeholders to use during efforts to gain acceptance and understanding of tree removal during future exotic pest incursions.
“The outcomes of this project should help to reduce delays and increase the chances of successful future eradication programs,” Carnegie said.
For more information on the ARC Training Centre in Plant Biosecurity click here.
