<
https://theconversation.com/what-is-myrtle-rust-and-why-has-this-disease-closed-lord-howe-island-to-visitors-202045>
"Some 70% of the World Heritage-listed Lord Howe Island has been closed to
non-essential visitors in response to a recurrence of the plant disease myrtle
rust.
Myrtle rust, native to South America, was first detected in Australia on the
Central Coast of NSW in April 2010. It is caused by a fungus that belongs to a
group of plant pathogens known as the rusts.
Rusts are among the most feared of all plant pathogens. They spread rapidly
over thousands of kilometres on wind currents and can cause huge losses in
plant production.
For example, wheat rust research over the past 100 years at the University of
Sydney has shown clear evidence of wind-borne rust spores travelling from
central Africa to Australia. Wheat production losses due to rust have at times
totalled hundreds of millions of dollars.
Myrtle rust rapidly invaded the entire east coast of Australia in the years
after it was first detected. It has caused the near extinction of at least
three rainforest species, including the native guava (
Rhodomyrtus psidioides)
and the scrub turpentine (
Rhodamnia rubescens).
The disease was detected at Lord Howe Island in 2016, and eradicated. Now it
has managed to spread there once again. There are concerns if the disease is
left unchecked, it could seriously alter the unique ecology of the island. Lord
Howe is home to some 240 native plant species, of which more than 100 are not
found anywhere else."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
