- Start date:
- 01 Jan 2015
- End date:
- 31 Dec 2018
- Researchers:
- Matthew Laurence, Edward Liew
- Project partners:
- Warwick Varley (Allied Tree Consultancy, TAFE Yallah)
Project aims
Investigate the host range of Neofusicoccum parvum on tree species in the Araucaria genus
Project Summary
The fungus Neofusicoccum parvum has recently been implicated in the decline of Norfolk Island Pines (Araucaria heterophylla) in Sydney. This disease has also been observed throughout NSW, other parts of Australia and New Zealand. There is now anecdotal evidence that other species in the Araucaria are susceptible to N. parvum. This study tests if the Cook Pine (A. columnaris), Hoop Pine (A. cunninghamii) and Bunya-Bunya Pine (A. bidwillii) are susceptible to the disease. This study will also test new PCR primers for the rapid diagnosis of this disease.