Entries by admin

Developing molecular ‘fingerprinting’ of myrtle rust disease to facilitate strategies in monitoring and control (PBSF023) COMPLETE

Project Leader, Organisation Michelle Moffitt, University of Western Sydney Status COMPLETE Background Before disease symptoms appear, plant pathogens deploy chemical cues, including metabolies and proteins, that impact the speed and degree of pathogenesis.  Some chemical cues act as molecular ‘fingerprints’ as they are pathogen-specific. Plants that are able to recognise these cues are more likely […]

November 11, 2019 by

Strengthening the weakest link in peri-urban Medfly suppression (PBSF022) COMPLETE

Project Leader, Organisation Professor Ben White, University of Western Australia Status COMPLETE Background This project examines communication and incentives for Medfly management in peri-urban areas. It will be run as a partnership between UWA and Peel Harvey Biosecurity Group (PHBG) and Dr Isabel Arevalo-Vigne (DPIRD). The project builds on research funded by the PBCRC on […]

November 11, 2019 by

2020 ‘Plant Health’ Queensland DAF Hermitage Research Facility Schools Plant Science Competition (PBSF021) COMPLETE

Project Leader, Organisation Kerrie Rubie, Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Status Complete Background The Queensland DAF Hermitage Research Facility Schools Plant Science Competition offers engaging ways for students to gain understanding and skills in key areas identified within the Australian Science Curriculum.  Encouraging the next generation of people who will be involved in agriculture […]

November 11, 2019 by

Enhancing community capacity to assess the impacts of myrtle rust on rainforest Myrtaceae in ecologically and culturally significant lowland subtropical rainforests (PBSF020)

Project Leader, Organisation Dr Angus Carnegie, NSW DPI Status Active Background Myrtle rust has had significant impacts on native ecosystems in NSW and Queensland, causing localised extinction of species (Rhodomyrtus psidioides) and severe decline of others (Syzygium hodgkinsoniae). A completed DEE project recording impact of myrtle rust EPBC-listed species ‘Lowland Rainforests of Subtropical Australia’ identified […]

November 11, 2019 by

Katharina Belt: Early Career Scholarship to attend the Australasian Plant Pathology Society Conference (PBSF019) COMPLETE

Project Leader, Organisation Katharina Belt, CSIRO Status COMPLETE Objectives Australia is one of few countries where biosecurity has played a major role in helping to keep agriculture and the environment free from some of the world’s most severe pests. However, new solutions for pest/disease incursion control are needed as foreign pathogens are becoming increasingly resistant […]

November 4, 2019 by

Resolution of disease epidemiology and detection of genetic and genotypic diversity in Australian populations of myrtle rust (PBSF018)

Project Leader, Organisation Alistair McTaggart, University of Queensland Status Active. Background A very high priority in the Myrtle Rust Action Plan is to prevent arrival of new strains of Austropuccinia psidii (Objective 5.1). The project collaborators in the United States, led by Ned Klopfenstein, are developing much-needed, high-throughput sequencing tools to distinguish strains of myrtle […]

November 4, 2019 by

Foundation call for investment proposals proves popular again!

The 2019 funding round called for proposals in the following areas: environmental biosecurity (with clear overlap with social and community biosecurity), and in particular myrtle rust building on the social biosecurity program of the PBCRC, including indigenous engagement urban and peri-urban biosecurity opportunities to promote and celebrate the International Year of Plant Health; and scholarships […]

October 2, 2019 by

Foundation’s latest update …

The Foundation is entering an exciting next phase: some of our initial investments are starting to deliver their work and sponsorships have been completed; our call for a second round of proposals is open until 30 August; the Board is about to meet again to assess proposals, undertake some professional development in IP and commercialization, […]

August 24, 2019 by

Myrtle Rust Masterclass – register now!

The Foundation supports a range of activities focused on environmental biosecurity, and in particular Myrtle Rust. We are supporting a Myrtle Rust Masterclass run by the Biosecurity Centre of Excellence at the Box Hill Institute to raise awareness and understanding … Dr Louise Shuey, Senior Forest Pathologist, Forest Production & Protection from the Queensland Department […]

August 22, 2019 by

Pursuing sensitivity limits of biochemical geographic discrimination as generic tool for high risk pest plants …

There is an urgent need for a method of provenance determination of biosecurity samples, insect incursions in particular. Biogeochemical markers, which are non-inherited but linked to geographic variation, are presently the only viable option for this. However, the existing techniques are not fit-for-purpose, as they are too slow, expensive, and lack the required analytical sensitivity. […]

August 21, 2019 by