FOREST TALK
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THE DISCOVERY OF THE MYRTLE RUST fungal disease in Northland and Taranaki last month is sending shivers through some sectors of the forestry industry.
Myrtle Rust could seriously affect Eucalyptus trees as well as others in the myrtle family, including Pohutukawa, Rata, Manuka, Bottlebrush and Feijoa. It attacks new leaves on many plants and mature leaves on others, suppressing flowering and seed development on some host plants, and repeated infections can kill.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) was notified early in May by a nursery in Kerikeri that five Pohutakawa seedlings had Myrtle Rust. It was later found in a nearby private garden and then in a Taranaki nursery.
The outbreak is the first to hit mainland New Zealand, although it is widespread on Raoul Island in the Kermadec group, about 1,100km to the north-east of New Zealand.
Myrtle Rust (Austropuccinia psidii) is also known as guava rust and eucalyptus rust and originated in Brazil in 1884. It has spread rapidly in recent years, reaching Australia in 2010.
There is no known method of controlling the disease in the wild, apart from application of fungicide in very small areas as a last resort. Even if eradication is achieved, there is an ongoing risk of reinfection from Australia.
After the Kerikeri discovery, MPI restricted the movement of any plants and people at the site, treating nursery stock with fungicide spray as a precaution. They also began a process to trace any stock that left the nursery and all other nurseries in the area were inspected.
The rust prefers warmer areas and it is thought cooler climates such as in Southland, where a number of Eucalyptus plantations are established, may slow its progress.
Anyone believing their plants have Myrtle Rust should call MPI on 0800 80 99 66.
NZL