There is an urgent need to develop rapid and reliable diagnostic protocols due to (1) increasing risk from invasion of exotic forest pests and pathogens, and (2) decline in technical capacity in forest biosecurity.
This project will evaluate current (overseas) diagnostic protocols for their use in Australia and develop new protocols for high priority pests and pathogens. Methodologies will investigate both species-specific and genera-specific diagnostic protocols, but also eDNA approaches which enhance detection of target and non-target species (i.e., capable of monitoring endemic/established populations while screening for exotics).
The primary use for these protocols will be for diagnostic laboratories, due to the expected increase in samples from the National Forest Biosecurity Surveillance Program, but the project will also investigate in-field rapid diagnostics for response capabilities. The project will target pests and pathogens of both Pinus and Eucalyptus.
Program:
Damage Agents Investment Plan (further detail available here)
Research Organisation:
NSW Department Of Primary Industries (Angus Carnegie)
