Citrus pathology resource scientist (CT07012)

This is a final research report from Hort Innovation’s historical archives. Please note that as these reports may date back as far as the 1990s, the content and recommendations within them may be superseded by more recent research.

What was it all about?

Project CT07012 addressed strategically important pathology issues in four key areas:

• Germplasm
• Productivity
• Market access and biosecurity
• Resource, technical support, extension and training.

A screening assay we developed resulted in the generation of ~20,000 hybrid Citrus resistant to the ‘Emperor’ brown spot disease for commercial evaluation. In the long term, resistance to this disease would significantly reduce losses and increase orchard profitability.

Orchard productivity due to diseases was minimised through improved access to effective fungicides. The project contributed to access to two useful products, and had identified several more promising fungicides for use in the future. Input was also provided to aid growers in recovering from two major flooding events which took place during the project.

In order to strengthen market access and biosecurity, two pathogens that already occurred in Australia were characterised in detail to underpin market access submissions and biosecurity decisions. A cost effective way to improve Biosecurity was to increase surveillance by training industry pest scouts and consultants to identify exotic pests and diseases. We collaborated with Biosecurity Queensland and provided targeted training to 45 pest scouts and surveillance officers.

Four pathology workshops attended by representatives of government, universities, and Citrus Australia Limited were organised as part of the project to discuss in detail pathology resources, technical support, extension and training. The outcomes of research activities discussed at the workshops were then extended to growers through presentations at the Citrus Australia National Conferences, regional forums, and more than 10 industry media articles.

To ensure pathology expertise continued to be available to the industry a suite of new projects covering various aspect of germplasm; productivity; market access, biosecurity, technical support, extension and training was developed and submitted to Horticulture Australia Limited for consideration.