30 August 2010
BIOSECURITY AUSTRALIA ADVICE 2010/26
DRAFT PEST RISK ANALYSIS REPORT FOR ‘CANDIDATUS LIBERIBACTER
SPECIES’ AND THEIR VECTORS ASSOCIATED WITH RUTACEAE
This Biosecurity Australia Advice (BAA) invites stakeholders to provide comments on the Draft
pest risk analysis report for ‘Candidatus Liberibacter species’ and their vectors associated with
Rutaceae by 29 October 2010 (60 days consultation).
‘Candidatus Liberibacter species’ cause Huanglongbing (HLB) disease in citrus which is
considered one of the most destructive diseases of citrus worldwide. The pathogens and their
vectors occur on all species and cultivars of citrus and on some non-citrus members of the
Rutaceae. Australia is currently free from ‘Ca. L. species’ and their known vectors, Diaphorina citri
and Trioza erytreae.
The pest risk analysis (PRA) considers all potential host plants and import pathways of ‘Candidatus
Liberibacter species’ and their insect vectors, Diaphorina citri and Trioza erytreae, from all
countries.
The draft report proposes quarantine measures for importation to Australia of ‘Candidatus
Liberibacter species’ host plant material from countries where these pathogens and/or their vectors
are present.
Currently, imports of fresh citrus fruit are only permitted from Egypt, Israel, Italy, New Zealand,
Spain and the USA (Arizona, California and Texas). In recent years, ‘Ca. L. species’ and their
vectors have extended their range around the world. The continued expansion in range of ‘Ca. L.
species’ and their vectors, particularly towards countries and regions that are approved to export
fresh fruit to Australia, and the identification of new pathways for their entry has resulted in a
renewed interest in these pathogens. Plant Biosecurity initiated this PRA to assess the quarantine
risks associated with these pests and the importation of host plant material into Australia.
This draft pest risk analysis identified nursery stock (live plants), budwood, seed for sowing and
psyllid vectors infected with ‘Ca. L. species’ as potential pathways for the introduction of ‘Ca. L.
species’ into Australia. Fruit, nursery stock, budwood and fresh leaves were identified as potential
pathways for the introduction of D. citri and T. erytreae. These potential pathways have an
unrestricted risk that exceeds Australia’s appropriate level of protection (ALOP), therefore risk
management measures are required. Plant Biosecurity considers that the risk management measures
proposed in this draft PRA report will achieve Australia’s ALOP against ‘Ca. L. species’ and their
psyllid vectors. Specifically, the proposed risk management measures are:
For budwood (potentially carrying ‘Ca. L. species’ and psyllid vectors):
-
existing policy for citrus budwood applies to all hosts of ‘Ca. L. species’ (on arrival
inspection, mandatory fumigation and mandatory growth in closed government post-entry
quarantine (PEQ) facilities until the required pathogen screening/testing is completed); and
Post: GPO Box 858 (18 Marcus Clarke St) Canberra ACT 2601 Location: 7 London Circuit Tel +61 2 6272 3933 www.biosecurityaustralia.gov.au
DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE,
FISHERIES AND FORESTRY
-
additionally, plants grafted with imported budwood must be grown at 22–24 °C to promote
symptom expression for ‘Ca. L. species’ and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for
‘Ca. L. species’ prior to release.
For seed for sowing (potentially carrying ‘Ca. L. species’):
-
hot water treatment of seed at 50 °C for 20 minutes from all sources; or
if seed is sensitive to heat treatment, mandatory surface sterilization and growth at 22–
24 °C in closed government PEQ facilities for 24 months with pathogen screening
including PCR testing for ‘Ca. L. species’ prior to release.
For fruit (potentially carrying psyllid vectors):
-
area freedom from citrus psyllids; or
-
an application of a treatment to fruit known to be effective against all life stages of the
psyllid (including but not limited to methyl bromide fumigation).
a systems approach using pre- and post-harvest measures to ensure that fruit is not infested
with psyllids; or
For fresh leaves (potentially carrying psyllid vectors):
-
area freedom; or
hot air treatment at 85 °C for 8 hours; or
mandatory methyl bromide fumigation
Comments on the draft report should be submitted by 29 October 2010 to:
Plant Biosecurity
Biosecurity Australia
GPO Box 858
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Telephone: +61 2 6272 5094
Facsimile: +61 2 6272 3307
E-mail:
plant@biosecurity.gov.au
The draft report is available via Biosecurity Australia’s website: http://www.daff.gov.au/ba.
All submissions received on the draft report will be carefully considered by Plant Biosecurity in
finalising the pest risk analysis.
Please pass this notice to other interested parties. If those parties wish to be included in future
communications on this matter they should contact Plant Biosecurity.
Confidentiality
Stakeholders are advised that, subject to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 and the Privacy Act
1988, all submissions received in response to Biosecurity Australia Advices will be publicly
available and may be listed or referred to in any papers or reports prepared on the subject matter.
The Commonwealth of Australia reserves the right to reveal the identity of a respondent unless a
request for anonymity accompanies the submission. Where a request for anonymity does not
accompany the submission the respondent will be taken to have consented to the disclosure of his or
her identity for the purposes of Information Privacy Principle 11 of the Privacy Act.
The contents of the submission will only be treated as confidential if they are marked ‘confidential’
and they can be classified as such in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act.
Dr Colin J Grant
Chief Executive