Boosting Diagnostic Capacity for Plant Production Industries
Summary
Objective
The broad aim of this cross-sectoral project is to improve our national plant diagnostic knowledge, processes and capacity for the early detection of plant biosecurity threats to support Australian primary industries. Importantly it will also connect ‘on-the ground’ industry programs to the National Plant Biosecurity Diagnostic Network (NPBDN).
Background
Background Australia is free from many of the world’s most damaging plant pests of broad acre, horticulture and forest industries. A fully functional and efficient biosecurity system is a vital part of the future profitability, productivity and sustainability of Australia’s plant production, and diagnostics is an essential part of a strong biosecurity system. Early and accurate diagnosis enables a rapid response to threats which may impact on plant production systems and the ability to access domestic and international markets. Recent incursions to industry have highlighted the importance of having a nationally coordinated diagnostic network with the highest level of accuracy and confidence in testing.
This project was funded under Round 4 of the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment Rural R&D for Profit program. The application was developed through the Plant Biosecurity Research Initiative. Administered by Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), it involves several plant Research and Development Corporations (RDCs) and state organisations as well as 14 research partners.
Research approach
A comprehensive on-going diagnostic network will be established through this project, integrating with the NPBDN, with strong collaboration between project partners, industry and government. The project will support iMapPESTS, another Rural R&D for Profit-funded project, by making available the most advanced diagnostic tools, protocols, training and expertise to accurately detect and identify exotic threats to our plant industries.
This project will be built around the National Priority Plant Pests (NPPPs; www.agriculture.gov.au/pests-diseases-weeds/plant) and the High Priority Pests identified through Biosecurity Plans (www.planthealthaustralia.com.au/industries), with additional established or exotic pests that are of economic importance. Pests from insect, fungal, bacterial, viral and nematode groups will be targeted as case studies to address gaps in the following three areas of activity:
- Biosecurity capacity building - Training of industry networks in diagnostics, developing high throughput and in-field methods to build surge capacity for high priority pests.
- Enhanced diagnostic tools - Development of diagnostic tools for early detection, application of next generation sequencing (NGS) to Post-Entry Quarantine virus screening, stocktake of reference collections, characterisation of reference specimens for NPPPs, improved diagnostic and surveillance coverage in National Diagnostic Protocols (NDPs) for NPPPs, determination of the geographical origin of pests in incursions for trade decisions.
- On-farm biosecurity response capability - Training for producers in pest recognition, symptom detection and correct sampling methods for high priority biosecurity targets, diagnostic ‘blitz’ exercises at locations of perceived entry risk, integration of new and improved diagnostic techniques into NDPs.
Sector benefits
Grapevine targets in this project include exotic and endemic viruses, aphids, mealybugs, Pierce’s Disease and Spotted-winged Drosophila. The speed and accuracy of diagnosis of samples can greatly improve the chance of containment of an incursion and subsequent eradication in a biosecurity response, affect development of movement conditions through the supply chain, and provide the evidence for producers to prove property or regional freedom for trade and market access.