New South Wales

Posted: 12.06.2011

The Local Government Tree Resources Association (LGTRA) recently hosted a talk at the North Sydney Oval Function Centre by Edward Lew, Chief Plant Pathologist at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney. Edward presented the latest information on this disease.

Edward noted that the disease has also been referred to as Eucalyptus Rust. It’s current form is Uredo rangelli, an asexual type of fungi. This specific type is in fact a strain of Eucalyptus Rust. As far as is known at present, it originated in south and central America. Yellow spots on leaves are the first positive sign of infection. The generation time (formation of pustules) is around 10 days. Spores can generate in a wide range of temperatures from 13-22 degrees C. This disease can potentially be devastating in Eucalyptus plantations as it affects young trees much more than other specimens. The usual impacts are leaf and shoot tip death, leading to degeneration and eventual death in the whole plant.
68 Myrtaceae (20 genera) are known to be affected so far.
Paul Laverty MAIH contributor

Information for affected industries:
Tea tree industry - www.attia.org.au
Nursery and garden industry - www.ngia.com.au
Australian native foods - www.anfil.org.au
New Rural Industries Australia - www.nria.org.au

An updated fact sheet has been issued by the NSW Government, Primary Industries Department, Plant Biosecurity Unit.
Click here for the fact sheet: Myrtle Rust alert update May 2011
Click here to view Pest_Alert Fact Sheet issued by the NGIA, 2010.

Report any suspected detection to the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on Freecall 1800 084 881.

Where new species of plants which are not listed as Myrtle rust hosts at: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/biosecurity/plant/myrtle-rust/hosts but are suspected to be affected by Myrtle rust, send photos to: biosecurity@industry.nsw.gov.au

Above: example of Myrtle Rust on Agonis flexuosa cv. Afterdark

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