Pest and Disease Management,

Biosecurity risks to Australia and the importance of timing.and the importance of timing.

Robert Spooner-Hart

Western Sydney University

• Quarantine Act 1908: replaced by

• Biosecurity Act 2015, commences 16 June 2016.

Federal Department of Agriculture has primary responsibility for

managing Australia's biosecurity system. AQIS disbanded.

BIOSECURITY IN AUSTRALIA

Core priorities of Biosecurity Act are:

• manage Australia's biosecurity by effectively identifying and targeting

management of risks to focus on the things that matter most

• partner with other governments, industry, clients and stakeholders to

manage Australia's biosecuritymanage Australia's biosecurity

• deliver biosecurity services to support access to overseas markets and

protect the economy and the environment from unwanted pests and

diseases

• support Australia's reputation as a competitive exporter

PLANT HEALTH AUSTRALIA (PHA)

• National coordinator of the government‐industry

partnership for plant biosecurity.

• Not‐for‐profit company servicing its members (major • Not‐for‐profit company servicing its members (major

agricultural industries, the Australian Government and all

state/territory governments) independently advocates

on behalf of the national plant biosecurity system.

• The Australian Olive Association is a member of PHA and • The Australian Olive Association is a member of PHA and

signatory to the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed.

o AOA represents the biosecurity interests of olive

producers and the industry.

The Industry

Biosecurity Plan for

the Olive Industry

(2009) (PHA)

“outlines key threats to the

industry, risk mitigation

plans, identification and

categorisation of exotic pests

and contingency plans”

COMMON

NAME

SCIENTIFIC

NAME

ENTRY

POTENTIAL

ESTABLISH

POTENTIAL

SPREAD

POTENTIAL

ECONOMIC

IMPACT

OVERALL

RISK

Olive fly Bactrocera

oleae

MEDIUM HIGH HIGH HIGH HIGH

Olive thrips Liothrips

oleae

HIGH HIGH 1 HIGH LOW‐

MEDIUM

LOW‐

MEDIUM

OLIVE INDUSTRY PLANT PEST THREAT PRIORITY LIST

oleae MEDIUM MEDIUM

Olive moth Prays

oleae

HIGH HIGH HIGH MEDIUM‐

HIGH

MEDIUM‐

HIGH

Verticillium

wilt

(defoliating

strain)

Verticillium

dahliae

LOW HIGH MEDIUM HIGH MEDIUM

Pierce’s Xylella MEDIUM‐ HIGH LOW 2 UNKNOWN UNKNOWNPierce’s

disease (AKA

olive tree

decline)

Xylella

fastidiosa

MEDIUM‐

HIGH

HIGH LOW UNKNOWN UNKNOWN

1 Higher in the presence of bark beetles (provide holes for overwintering)2 Spread potential is vector dependent. Ability of native vectors to transmit disease is unknown, but all

xylem sucking pests are potential vectors. Spread potential would be LOW without but HIGH with

suitable vectors

Olive Fly Bactrocera oleae

Distribution: Mediterranean basin, Africa, Western Asia, India,

Pakistan. Since the late 1990s, present in California (arrived from

Mexico).

Most important and destructive pest of olives, difficult to control

Olive Moth Prays oleae

Damages flowers, fruit and

leaves

Host range relatively limited to

olives and olive family relatives

Present in Mediterranean, but

not central Asia or Nth, Sth

AmericaAmerica

http://www7.inra.fr/hyppz/

RAVAGEUR/6praole.htm

Olive Thrips Liothrips oleae

small insects, 1.5 to 2.5 mm long,

black

3+ generations/year 3+ generations/year

Overwinter as adults in cracks/crevices

Attacks O. europea exclusively

Feed on leaves, flowers, young fruit,

www7.inra.fr/hyppz/RAVAGEUR/6lioole.htm

Feed on leaves, flowers, young fruit,

can significantly impact yield

Occurs in all olive growing areas

of Mediterranean

Verticillium Wilt

Defoliating Strain

Verticillium dahliae D

(defoliating) pathotype can be

identified by symptoms and identified by symptoms and

genetically.

Reported in Southern Spain

(80% of isolates in olive groves

2009), also Tunisia 2011, USA

(cotton, many years).

Detected in Australia in cotton

in NSW and Qld April 2015

(>40% of isolates in 2014/5).

Now known to be present at

least since 1984/5.

Olive tree decline Xylella fastidiosa

• In Europe Xylella fastidiosa first recorded in 2013 in Puglia, Italy,

where it is causing serious damage to olive groves

• In Puglia, the bacterium has been detected in numerous other host • In Puglia, the bacterium has been detected in numerous other host

plants. Quarantine and significant tree destruction used in attempts

to control the outbreak

• wide host range, 309 plant species in 193 genera including Acacia,

Eucalyptus

www.eppo.int/QUARANTINE/special_topics/Xylella_fastidiosa/Xylella_fastidiosa.htm

Very recently (22 July 2015) X. fastidiosa detected on Corsica, France.

Bacterium detected on ornamental plants (Polygala myrtifolia) (a

species widely grown in Australia). Quarantine and eradication

measures have immediately been implemented.

Genetic testing indicates the European strain originated from

Colombia. Several different pathovars worldwide, with different hosts.Colombia. Several different pathovars worldwide, with different hosts.

Polygala myrtifolia

• Homalodisca vitripennis

MAJOR VECTOR OF X. fastidiosa in USA:

Glassy sharpshooter Homalodisca vitripennis (Cicadellidae) xylem

feeder. This species is a high quarantine risk pest for Australia (many

crops)

When vector feeds on infected plant X. fastidiosa colonizes the

sharpshooter by forming a biofilm on its mouth‐parts

Australia, like Italy and most other countries, has many native

species of xylem‐feeding cicadellids

One of the major problems

with outbreaks of invasive

pests and diseases is that

the incursion isn’t

detected early enough,

authorities are blamed for

the incursion, or for not

effectively eradicating it.

National surveillance programs

Responsibility > Australian Government, industry (national

associations)

• Barrier quarantine services at all international ports and in the

Torres Strait regionTorres Strait region

• Survey northern coast of Australia, offshore islands and

neighbouring countries for exotic pests

• Phytosanitary certificates (country of origin) / trade

State surveillance programs

Responsibility > State/territory governments, industry/growers

• provision of diagnostic services

• providing field diagnosticians for special field surveillance

COST SHARING CATEGORIES FOR PEST

ERADICATION CAMPAIGNS

Category 1: Very high public benefits

Pest which if not eradicated would: cause major environmental damage to natural

ecosystems; affect human health or significant damage to amenity flora; and have

relatively little impact on commercial crops. 100% Government relatively little impact on commercial crops. 100% Government

Category 2: High public benefits

Pest which if not eradicated would: cause significant public losses either directly

through loss of amenity and/or environmental values and/or very severe economic

impacts on regions and the national economy, through large trade losses; impose major

costs on the industries. 80% Government , 20% Industry

Category 3: Moderate public benefits

Pest which if not eradicated would: primarily harm the industries concerned, but there Pest which if not eradicated would: primarily harm the industries concerned, but there

would also be some significant public costs. 50% Government, 50% Industry

Category 4: Mostly if not wholly private benefits

Pest which if not eradicated would: have little or no public cost implications and little or

no impacts on natural ecosystems. The affected commercial industries would be

adversely affected primarily through additional costs of production, through extra

control costs or nuisance costs. 20% Government, 80% Industry

TIMING IS CRITICAL

IPDM as the key strategy

MONITORING (pests, diseases, damage,

suitable climatic conditions, locations) suitable climatic conditions, locations)

KNOW YOUR ENEMY: ITS LIFE CYCLE, STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

MAKE SURE YOU SELECT A HEALTHY LOCATION

CHOOSE HEALTHY PATIENTS (From reputable nursery, suitable CHOOSE HEALTHY PATIENTS (From reputable nursery, suitable

variety)

KEEP YOUR PATIENT HEALTHY, AND ENJOYING A GOOD LIFESTYLE

(DON’T PUT IT UNDER STRESS): Irrigation, nutrition, pruning etc.

PathogenVirulent

pathogen:

Host Susceptible

• crop

DISEASE (or pest) TRIANGLE

DISEASE

pathogen:

Fungi, Bacteria,

Viruses,

Nematodes,

Mycoplasmas,

Spiroplasmas

• crop

• cultivar

Favourable EnvironmentAir temperature, Soil fertility Rainfall

Soil temperature Soil type Relative humidity

Soil pH Soil moisture

MEDICATION Various pesticides

Preventative (contact) form a protective barrier on

healthy plant surfaces that prevents fungal spores

from germinating or penetrating host tissue (e.g. from germinating or penetrating host tissue (e.g.

Copper)

Curative/Therapeutic/Eradicant (contact (mancozeb,

pyrethroids, oil sprays), or systemic /translaminar

pesticides. Act on pest on or in plant. Fungicides pesticides. Act on pest on or in plant. Fungicides

effective after fungus penetration of plant tissue,

must be applied within a certain time after infection

starts

BLACK SCALE Saissetia oleae (Coccidae)

• Important and widespread insect

pest

• 2 (+?) generations/year. • 2 (+?) generations/year.

Overlapping, particularly in warmer

climates e.g., Qld

Ants and black scale

LIFE CYCLE OF BLACK

SCALE IS CRITICAL TO

MANAGEMENT

Eggs (<thousands per female)

1st instar crawlers

2nd instar settled scales

3rd instar immature females

(H on back, flatter, paler)

Mature females (domed,

dark brown/black)

Males rare, winged

A Mature black scale

female with eggs

B Black scale adults and

crawlers (Scutellista

caerulea on right)

C Young adult female

black scale

Black scale population stage composition S-E Queensland

80

90

100

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

females with eggs

females

3rd instar nymphs

2nd instar nymphs

crawlers

BEST

TIME FOR

OIL

SPRAYS

If second

generation

0

10

Augus

tSep

tem

ber

Oct

ober

Nove

mber

Decem

berJa

nuary

Febru

ary

Mar

ch

April

May Ju

n

July

SpiracleMuscle

Tracheae

Anoxia

(suffocation or

drowning) results

DIRECT ACTION OF OIL SPRAYS AGAINST INSECTS

Tracheal lining

coated with oil

Body

wall

from capillary

movement

of oil into

tracheae

Generally relevant Based on Johnson (1994)

Generally relevant

to mites and small

sessile insects

Non‐systemic

Based on Johnson (1994)

TREATMENT MEAN SE

Trials conducted against immature black scale

after 2nd spray: field trial S-E Queensland

TREATMENT MEAN

NUMBER

SCALE/LEAF

SE

Water 11.12 a 3.41

1% PSO 2.95 b 0.981% PSO 2.95 b 0.98

1.8% PSO 2.11 b 1.06

TREATMENT MEAN SE

Trials conducted against immature black scale

after 2nd spray: field trial central NSW

TREATMENT MEAN

NUMBER

SCALE/LEAF

SE

Water 0.82 a 0.29

1% PSO 0.20 b 0.101% PSO 0.20 b 0.10

1.8% PSO 0.05 b 0.02

INSECT GROWTH REGULATORS (IGRs) (Juvenile hormone

mimics) Work best at egg hatch‒young nymphs, but also pupae‒adult, so timing critical.

Not systemic

Admiral® (pyriproxyfen)

(REGISTERED against (REGISTERED against

black scale in olives)

Admiral ideally should be

applied at the time of crawler

release for best effect but can

be applied to later scale be applied to later scale

instars. The key points of

activity are prevention of

pupation to adult scale,

sterilization of adult females

and prevention of egg hatch.

OLIVE LACE BUG Froggattia olivinia (Tingidae) LIFE CYCLE

Major pest in Qld, NSW, WA, native species

Eggs laid in leaf tissue, undersides of leaves

1st instars hatching 1st instars after hatching

5 nymphal instars

2nd instar 3rd instar

4th instar

Wing bud Wing bud

5th instar

1st

4th

2nd

Mixed nymphal

instars of F. olivinia

5th

Total Development Time of OLB Nymphs on Four

Olive Varieties and the Native Host

OLB NYMPHAL DEVELOPMENT AT 27°C

OLB develops at different rates on different olive varieties

Olive Varieties and the Native Host

14

15

16

17

18

Tim

e (days)

aaaa

bbbb

aaaa

cccc

bbbb

12

13

14

Barnea Hardy's

Mammoth

Picual Correggiola Notelaea

Host

Tim

e (days)

OIL 0.75% OIL 1.0%

Mortality (%)

post 1st

Mortality (%)

post 2nd

Mortality (%)

post 1st

Mortality (%)

post 2nd

OLIVE LACE BUG MORTALITY FOLLOWING 2 APPLICATIONS

OF EMULSIFIED BOTANICAL OIL 14 DAYS APART

post 1st

application

post 2nd

application

post 1st

application

post 2nd

application

1-2nd instars 1-2nd instars

75.7 85.4 83.9 92.2

4-5th instars 4-5th instars4-5th instars 4-5th instars

‐ 10.2 ‐ 14.8

Adults Adults

0 0 0 0

Similar timing for Natrasoap®, but results variable and difficult to apply

ANTHRACNOSE (Colletotrichum acutatum, C.

gloeosporoides)

Latent infection

Primary infections from

overwintering sclerotia

(flowers, young fruit, leaves)

Secondary infections (from

lesions to other ripening

fruit)fruit)

Weather conducive to

anthracnose (warm, humid,

leaf wetness) promotes

primary, secondary spread

MONITOR EVERY GROVE OR BLOCK IN LARGE

GROVES AT LEAST MONTHLY DURING THE

GROWING SEASON

Monitor priority blocks (those with high fruit load or with history of Monitor priority blocks (those with high fruit load or with history of

pest and disease problems) more frequently

Know what conditions or timing are

associated with pests and diseases in your

grove, to commence monitoring for them

In larger groves, driving slowly down rows In larger groves, driving slowly down rows

enables detection of high populations of

pests and diseases or their damage

In addition, assessing and inspecting individual trees within

monitored rows using 10X hand lens, and life stages is critical

EARLY DETECTION MEANS:

BETTER PLANNING OF BETTER PLANNING OF

INTERVENTIONS (i.e. not putting out

bush fires, so greater range of options)

EARLY DETECTION MEANS:

BETTER PLANNING OF INTERVENTIONS BETTER PLANNING OF INTERVENTIONS

(i.e. not putting out bush fires, so

greater range of options)

TARGETED RESPONSES (e.g. spot TARGETED RESPONSES (e.g. spot

spraying)

EARLY DETECTION MEANS:

BETTER PLANNING OF INTERVENTIONS BETTER PLANNING OF INTERVENTIONS

(i.e. not putting out bush fires, so

greater range of options)

TARGETED RESPONSES (e.g. spot TARGETED RESPONSES (e.g. spot

spraying)

REDUCED COSTS

IT’S NOW TIME FOR YOUR

DISCUSSIONS

PhD PROJECT Phuong Sa Nguyen (SUPERVISORS: PAUL

HOLFORD, ANDREW BEATTIE, ROBERT SPOONER-HART)

IMPACTS OF PLANT NITROGEN NUTRITION ON BLACK SCALE AND ITS

PARASITOIDS, PARTICULARLY Scutellista caerulea, IN AUSTRALIAN

OLIVE AND CITRUS CROPS

AIMS

• Determine the identity of species of black scale present in Australian olives and

citrus, using morphological and molecular techniques

• Confirm the identities of all parasitoids associated with black scale, Saissetia

oleae, in Australia (63 parasitoids reported world‐wide)oleae, in Australia (63 parasitoids reported world‐wide)

• Assess impacts of foliar nitrogen on the size and fecundity of Saissetia oleae

females, development, and parasitism/predation by its primary parasitoids

THE OLIVE INDUSTRY COULD ASSIST BY PROVIDING SAMPLES OF BLACK SCALE (AND

PARASITOIDS), AND POSSIBLY SITES FOR NUTRITION FIELD TRIALS CLOSE TO SYDNEY

World-wide distribution of Saisettia oleae