Myrtle Rust Detection Sparks Concern at National Museum and Beyond

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Our scientists reported the presence of myrtle rust in the gardens of the National Museum of Australia in Canberra. This invasive fungus poses a significant threat to native plant species, including eucalypts, tea trees, and lilly pillies.

Supplied: @tjeales/ iNaturalist Australia

Target: Myrtle rust – caused by an invasive fungal pathogen​

• Infects most plants in the family Myrtaceae​

  
  

• Includes iconic Australian plants such as eucalypts, paperbark, lilly pilly​

  
  

• Impacts crop plants such as tea tree, lemon myrtle, forestry and cut flowers​

  
  

• Airborne spores spread easily causing new damage ​

  
  

• Biosecurity concerns for geographic spread and new more virulent strains​

  
  

• We have developed methods to test DNA for strain diagnostics

Our prototype system was demonstrated in 2023-24 at the Australian National Botanic Garden, Canberra.

Text by Benjamin Schwessinger