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Plant Health Laws in South Australia (PDF 641.6 KB)

Queensland Fruit Fly - Host Check List (PDF 1.1 MB)

Myrtle rust

Myrtle rust an introduced disease caused by the fungus Uredo rangelii. Myrtle rust, which is part of the eucalyptus/guava rust complex, has been confirmed in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria on a wide range of host plants in the family Myrtaceae.

The disease is of serious concern to Australia due to the possible significant impact on native forests, parks and gardens, nurseries and Eucalypt plantations. The Myrtaceae family is a dominant plant group in natural ecosystems. The susceptibility of plants within the Myrtaceae family to myrtle rust ranges from high susceptibility to tolerant. Bioclimatic data indicates that northern and eastern Australia are most at risk as high rainfall and temperatures are favourable for the development of the disease. The South Australian climatic environment is less suited to myrtle rust and the potential economic and biological impact of the disease on South Australian industries and natural ecosystems is likely to be low.

It is expected that the higher rainfall coastal areas of South Australia are most at risk, namely the South East, Kangaroo Island, Fleurieu Peninsula, lower Yorke Peninsula and lower Eyre Peninsula. Even in areas of drier climate that are generally unsuitable for the pathogen, nurseries, glasshouses and some home gardens have the potential to provide microclimates that are conducive to infection and spore development, given an adequate supply of susceptible young foliage.

Condition 26 of the South Australian Plant Quarantine Standard prohibits the entry into South Australia of plants and plant material of the Family Myrtaceae including nursery stock, cut flowers, fruit, germplasm, and tissue culture from any Australian state and territory that has had a detection of Myrtle rust (Uredo rangelii) unless certified:

To report suspect cases of Myrtle rust please contact the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.

Informative sites:

Download:

Condition 26 (PDF )

Genera in Myrtaceae List (PDF 288.2 KB )

Myrtle rust - awareness sheet (PDF 185.8 KB )