Boneseed Rust: A highly promising candidate for biological control

Aims

This project aims to complete the host-specificity testing phase of the boneseed rust to provide the necessary data to finalise the risk assessment for this rust and build a strong case to support its release in Australia. This will be achieved by:

1. Carrying out inoculations of the six non-target plant species on which penetration occurred in initial host-specificity tests, and microscopically examining samples taken 4 weeks after inoculation to determine if the rust has successfully colonised plant tissue. (Modified objective proposed to L&W Australia in March 2007 and accepted on 7 June 2007)
 

2. Preparing and submitting an application to release the rust to the regulatory authorities.
 

3. Developing a molecular-based tool to enable detection of the rust in symptomless plants after release since it can takes up to 2-3 years for visible disease symptoms to develop.
 

4. Negotiating with AQIS to determine an acceptable approach to release the rust from the quarantine facility.
 

Background

This project is building on research conducted in South Africa in the mid-1990s.

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