Scientific detectives - solving quarantine quandaries

The Biosecurity Team at the Victorian Department of Natural Resources & Environment has won the Science and Research category of the 2001 National Quarantine Awards, presented in Canberra this evening. The Biosecurity Team was rewarded for its lead role in the development of diagnostic protocols and contingency plans to prevent and control plant diseases that affect Australia's vital horticulture industries.

The National Quarantine Awards are designed to focus public attention on the importance of quarantine to our unique environment and Australian way of life. The awards recognise that quarantine is a shared responsibility and reward outstanding efforts in quarantine from a range of organisations and individuals across Australia.

This award recognised the work the Biosecurity Team has undertaken over the last five years to produce contingency plans to assist in the prevention and control of fire blight (Erwinia amylovora), Sharka disease (plum pox virus), Pierce's disease (Xylella fastidiosa) and Potato Spindle Tuber Viroid. Each of these has the potential to cause considerable crop losses and affect the livelihoods of communities.

Team leader, Peter Merriman, said the contingency plan developed by the Biosecurity Team helped to successfully manage the fire blight emergency in the Melbourne Royal Botanic Gardens and for the detection of plum pox virus in plums intercepted at Sydney International

"The plan is now used as a model for other industry plans and the methods for detection and isolation of Erwinia amylovora are now accepted as a national diagnostic protocol," said Mr Merriman.

The Team also undertook a review of the indexing protocols for pome fruit after two major issues were identified in discussions with the Australian Apple and Pear Grower's Association. The diagnostic science used for indexing bud wood was found to be dated, with the time taken for post entry quarantine indexing of three years placing the industry at a significant disadvantage in accessing new cultivars.

After two years the project delivered a draft revised post entry quarantine protocol for pome fruit for industry, which incorporated active indexing by the latest diagnostic tests and halved the time plants were in post entry quarantine.

The contingency plan for fire blight has been used to successfully eradicate Erwinia amylovora from Australia, and pome fruit, stone fruit, grapevine and potato industries now have a greater awareness of the threat of exotic diseases. The Biosecurity Team's success has prompted representatives from the grains and forest industries to seek advice on protocols required for their quarantine practices.

This year, award applications were received across a wide range of industries and enterprises, from government departments and the corporate sector to community groups. The diversity of applications is a reminder of the broad spectrum of activities that are required to ensure effective quarantine measures are in place.

Expert panels representing industry and the community judged the 2001 National Quarantine Awards. The Science and Research judging panel comprised: Mark Whattam, Plant Pathologist, AQIS; Dr Jim Cullen (Chairman), Chief - Division of Entomology, CSIRO and QEAC member, and Doug Hocking, Program Manager, Horticultural Products and Plant Protection, NSW Agriculture.

The national judging panel comprised: Malcolm Nairn, QEAC Chair; Andrew Inglis, QEAC Deputy Chair; Mike Taylor, Secretary, Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Meryl Stanton, Executive Director, AQIS.

For further information
Contact: Ben Smith or Jamie Snashall, Professional Public Relations
Phone: 02 6239 1333
Fax: 02 6239 1322

Additional information on the awards and quarantine issues can be found at www.aqis.gov.au