Vegetables Australia January-February_2017_LR

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16 | January/February - 2017 | 17
R&D | THE FRONT LINE |
In this edition, The Front Line investigates a recent CSIRO analysis of 1,300 global plant pests that will determine
the risk of invasion and impact on major agricultural crops. This was done on a country-by-country basis, taking
into account international trade pathways to identify countries that are major sources of plant pests. AUSVEG
National Manager – Science and Extension Dr Jessica Lye explains.
ALL QUIET ON THE HOME FRONT:
WHY A WORKING BIOSECURITY SYSTEM IS
AS NOISELESS AS A WELL-OILED MACHINE
According to the CSIRO, global agriculture is not homogenised
when it comes to plant pest distribution. Many countries, especially
Australia, are vulnerable to the threat of new pests. Indeed, even
within Australia there is a geographic variation of plant pests.
Mediterranean fruit fly and Queensland fruit fly are examples of
this variance.
In addition, countries with diverse commodities and/or large
trade volumes were found to represent the greatest source of
invasive pests and pathogens. CSIRO emphasises that as trade
volumes continue to increase and more trade connections are made
between countries, the pressures from invasive species will intensify.
The research gives surety that Australia is on the right track with
plant pest response. While we have a relatively high likelihood of
plant pest arrival, the overall economic impact would be low due
to strong prevention and management systems and a diverse
economy. This is cause to celebrate, but also provides incentive to
maintain the system we have, and improve it where we can.
Taking note of international initiatives – what has worked and
what has not – is one method of improving our current system.
UNITED KINGDOM
The United Kingdom initiated a country-wide surveillance scheme
in 1964 to understand how and why insects migrate. Since that
time, the Rothamsted Insect Survey, which is composed of two
suction trap networks (11 traps in England and four in Scotland),
has resulted in the development of an extensive insect bank and
contributed to decisions on pest control. It has been an invaluable
tool for research into insect migration and population genetics,
and acted as an early detector system.
Similar systems based on the UK model, using the same trap
design, are now in place throughout Europe and Scandinavia with 73
traps installed and 46 in operation. All contribute to the EXploitation
of Aphid Monitoring in Europe (EXAMINE) network in which data is
regularly analysed and shared on a daily or weekly basis.
NEW ZEALAND
New Zealand began using powered suction traps of the Rothamsted
design to monitor insect arrivals and movements in 1981. They have
been scientifically proven to give an accurate representation of the
types and number of insects in the surrounding area.
The types of data collected were broad, covering a wide range
of both pest and beneficial insects. This system was used by
industry to respond to pests in a near real-time manner, with data
published on a weekly basis (for example, aphid vectors of Barley
yellow dwarf virus). The data allows growers to know exactly what
pests are present in each region on a regular basis so that informed
management decisions on seasonal pests may be made.
UNITED STATES
In the United States, an initiative termed Protect U.S. – Community
invasive species network now provides an overarching engagement
and extension program that seeks to educate industry stakeholders
about destructive plant pests.
Protect U.S. is a collaborative partnership between the US National
Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN) and the US Department of
Agriculture. This collaboration ensures that information on-site and
distributed by officers is informed by up-to-date scientific evidence.
Regional and state surveillance schemes sit under this initiative
– one such scheme is the Florida First Detector initiative. Managed
through the University of Florida, this scheme encourages industries
and communities to stay vigilant and report suspect pests. The
success of this education initiative is underpinned by a national
surveillance network, linked by schemes such as the Florida First
Detector program.
AUSTRALIA: SILENCE IS GOLDEN
It is a true indication that Australia’s biosecurity system is working
when pest media articles are uncommon and when an industry
is not undergoing consultation to raise an Emergency Plant Pest
Response levy.
There are hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of pest
interceptions at our ports and other high risk entry sites every year.
High numbers or changing patterns of interceptions at the border
can indicate an elevated risk of plant pest introduction.
Recently, the Federal Department of Agriculture and Water
Resources responded to increased detections of Brown
marmorated stink bug at Australian ports. In response, break bulk
cargo import conditions were made more stringent and this pest
is now being used in a pilot project through Plant Health Australia
to improve the structure of contingency plans (these plans support
government and industry decision makers during plant pest
preparedness and response).
Detection of damaging pests in countries or regions that pose
a source risk can also initiate preparedness measures. As another
example, information regarding the detection of the psyllid vector of
the citrus disease Huanglongbing in California a number of years ago
prompted a review of import conditions for citrus from that state.
However, while our biosecurity system can reduce the risk of
a pest incursion, or catch pests at the border, some pests are not
identified before they can enter and establish in Australia. This is
where early detection becomes critical.
One example of effective early detection is the recent detection
of Varroa jacobsoni mite in Townsville. A government-industry
funded eradication program is now underway as the national
committee responsible for incursion management feel this pest
can be eradicated. Fortunately, Varroa jacobsoni does not affect
European honey bees. If the more serious Varroa destructor was
detected and became established, it could affect 1,700 commercial
honey bee businesses, 20,000 crop industry businesses and 10,000
hobby beekeepers.
WHAT’S NEW IN NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS?
In 2015-16, Plant Health Australia completed the ‘Caring for our
Country’ innovation project to develop a system for the national
surveillance for weeds and plant pests – essentially a virtual system
to collate, aggregate and assess information on Australian plant
pests to inform industry and government about pest distribution. The
project resulted in AUSPestCheck, which will be an essential tool in
the coordination of national pest surveillance.
AUSPestCheck is designed to link existing surveillance databases
and systems, facilitate the development of a national surveillance
system, and process information for use by government and
industry. For example, it can be used to automatically alert users
when pests are moving or being found in new areas.
When supported by regional and state/territory surveillance
schemes (such as the Rothamsted surveillance network or Florida
First Detector program overseas), AUSPestCheck has the potential to
store pest distribution information to support market access – both
interstate and international – and provide real-time pest information
to growers. This information may then aid in making more cost-
effective pest management decisions on-farm, such as the timing
and frequency of spray application.
As would be expected, the system complies with standards
ensuring data and information stored within AUSPestCheck meets
the security, access and privacy requirements of information
contributors. These contributors must be registered users in order
to supply and receive information. As an example of practical use,
AUSPestCheck is currently being used to track the distribution of
the Russian wheat aphid (Diuraphis noxia), a damaging pest of grain
crops across South Australia and Victoria (see map above).
AUSPestCheck is intended to provide industry regional groups
with a national perspective of important plant pests and a
mechanism for contributing pest detection data to a national
surveillance plan alongside government departments and other
stakeholders. Unlike industries such as grains and citrus, the
vegetable industry has yet to develop a surveillance scheme for high
priority established and exotic pests.
Varroa jacobsoni. Image courtesy
of Lilia De Guzman, .
Varroa destructor . Image courtesy of Scott Bauer,
USDA Agricultural Research Service, .
For more information about AUSPestCheck and how you may get involved,
please contact AUSVEG National Manager – Science and Extension, Dr
Jessica Lye at or 03 9882 0277.
Any unusual plant pest should be reported immediately to the relevant
state or territory agriculture agency through the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline
(1800 084 881).
This communication has been funded by Horticulture Innovation
Australia Limited using the National Vegetable Levy and funds from the
Australian Government.
Project Number: VG15027
INFO
R&D
NATIONAL SURVEILLANCE
DATA MAP OF RUSSIAN
WHEAT APHID
Pest present
Pest absent
Sample received,
not yet diagnosed
Source: Plant Health Australia