Call for Action - Testing the Impact of PSHB Fusarium on WA Tree Crops
Call to action - WA orchardists can help with the research to assess the impact of Polypharous Shot Hole Borer on tree crops.
If you are thinking of removing trees this year, you can support important research to better understand the potential impact of PSHB on industry orchards.
Contact
Duccio Migliorini of the Harry Butler Institute - Murdoch University, ph 0426 148 394 or Email Duccio.Migliorini@murdoch.edu.au.
Background
The Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer (PSHB) and its fungal partner Fusarium euwallaceae pose a serious emerging threat to Western Australia’s agriculture, urban trees, and natural ecosystems.
These organisms work together: the beetle introduces the fungus, its food source, into plant tissue, where the pathogen spreads and can cause branch dieback, structural weakness, and tree death. Many plant species worldwide have been reported as hosts, including ornamental and crop plants that are widely present in Western Australia.
If susceptible plant species are identified early, surveillance and management strategies can be directed where they are most needed. This reduces the risk of large-scale damage.
By testing a wide range of plant species, including crop species, native trees and shrubs, and ornamental plants used in urban landscape, Duccio aims to assess how susceptible Western Australian plants are to the PSHB-associated fungus.
This investigation will provide:
• Early identification of plant species and cultivars at greatest risk
• Information on plant susceptibility and disease development
• Guidance for current management
What is needed
To carry out this research, Duccio is seeking healthy stem material from plant species and cultivars. Growers, land managers, nurseries, and private landholders can support this work. If you have plants available or would like to discuss potential collections, please get in touch with Duccio.
Researcher requires healthy branches or stems from field-grown plants:
• Diameter: 3–8 cm (up to 10 cm maximum)
• Length: ideally harvested in ~2 m sections (maximum 2.5 m), as long as possible for transport to prevent dehydration before processing
• Quantity: approximately 4–5 metres in total (smaller amounts are also acceptable)
• Rootstock material is also highly valuable where available
• Preferably, the samples are fresh wood, ideally harvested the same day as lab testing, and cut off at ground level.
Collected stems will be transported to quarantine facilities at Murdoch University and cut into 20–40 cm sections for laboratory testing.
How the testing works
1. Fungal inoculation
Small holes are drilled into the stem and inoculated with the PSHB-associated fungus grown on sterile toothpicks.
2. Laboratory incubation
Stems are kept under controlled conditions for five weeks at different temperatures.
3. Disease assessment
The development of internal lesions in the wood is measured after five weeks to determine how susceptible the plant species is.
4. Pathogen confirmation
The fungus is re-isolated from infected tissue to confirm its role in the disease.
