This multi-industry investment was for and funded by the vegetable and nursery industries. It aimed to bolster preparedness for and protection against the potential spread of vegetable leafminer (Liriomyza sativae) through Australian growing regions. The pest is capable of infesting a broad range of crops, and was first detected on the country’s mainland in 2015, in a backyard garden in the Cape York Peninsula community of Seisia.

The Project

The RD&E Program for control, eradication and preparedness for Vegetable Leafminer (2017-2020) was developed in recognition of the extensive impact that Vegetable Leafminer (VLM; Liriomyza sativae) could have on the vegetable, nursery, melon, and potato industries were it to move into production areas with no management plan in place.

In 2019, the project underwent a variation to cover RD&E activities on serpentine leafminer (SLM; Liriomyza huidobrensis) and American serpentine leafminer (ASLM; Liriomyza trifolii).

Project partners included Cesar Australia, the University of Melbourne, Plant Health Australia, the Northern Australian Quarantine Strategy (NAQS) and AUSVEG.

Throughout the duration of the project, project partners:

• Investigated biological and chemical control options for VLM, SLM and ASLM;
• Identified spread pathways into Australia;
• Developed management guidelines and trapping methods;
• Modelled the spread of the pest from Cape York Peninsula; and
• Developed contingency plans for VLM, SLM and ASLM and VLM-specific response plans in the event of a regional eradication.

AUSVEG’s role

AUSVEG delivered the communications and extension component of the program, which aimed to improve awareness of VLM, SLM, and ASLM in vegetable, nursery, potato and melon production regions, as well as inform growers about methods of control as developed throughout the project. Over the course of the project, AUSVEG delivered 19 workshops, eight webinars, three podcasts, two videos, and numerous articles and project updates. Visit the ‘Extension Package’ tab above to view and download these resources.

This project has been funded by Hort Innovation, using the research and development levies listed below and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture.

• Vegetable Fund