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Anna Rathe
PhD Student
School School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga
Location Industry & Investment NSW, Gosford
Phone 02 4348 1932
Email anna_a_36@hotmail.com
Project
Risk assessment and biosecurity preparedness for glassy-winged sharpshooter and the plant pathogenic bacterium Xylella fastidiosa
Summary
The bacterium Xylella fastidiosa is likely to be an emergency plant pathogen incursion in Australia in the future. The pathogen is part of an economically devastating pathosystem involving the vector insect Homalodisca vitripennis , the glassy-winged sharpshooter. The bacterium is associated with many diseases including Pierce's disease in grapevines. The pathogen is widespread in America, and is spreading to other areas of the globe. The geographic distribution of the pathogen in the Pacific Islands is currently unknown although the insect vector has spread to Easter Island, French Polynesia, Hawaii and the Cook Islands and is clearly capable of relocating long distances across the Pacific.
The project will investigate how X. fastidiosa and H.vitripennis will behave under Australian conditions. In particular, the potential interactions between native Australian flora and fauna and the two pest species will be explored. It is critical to develop a greater understanding of the system as it would operate in Australia in order to minimise the economic impact of either species arriving. The pathosystem is a threat to a wide range of horticultural crops, and could have severe detrimental impacts for Australia's primary production. Towards the close of the project, the knowledge gained will be used to make scientific recommendations in order to increase Australia's ability to deal with an incursion of either organism.
Supervisors
Prof Geoff Gurr, Dr Leigh Pilkington
Funding source
Cooperative Research Centre for National Plant Biosecurity PhD Scholarship