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Uredo rangelii
Uredo rangelii the cause of myrtle rust, was reported for the
first time in Australia – during April 2010 – from Agonis flexuosa
(willow myrtle), Callistemon viminalis (bottlebrush) and Syncarpia
glomulifera (turpentine), in New South Wales. Since then the rust
has been recorded in Queensland
DNA sequence data places it in the Puccinia psidii complex but
this taxon is morphologically distinct from P. psidii the cause of
guava rust. This complex of diseases is native to South America
and is also recorded in the United States of America (Florida
and Hawaii) and Mexico. The pathway by which U. rangelii was
introduced into Australia in unclear but the microscopic spores
are easily carried by wind, on clothes, on plants through the
nursery trade, on goods etc. The rust affects plants belonging to
the Myrtaceae family; a family to which many Australian native
species like the Callistemons and Eucalyptus belong.
The rust affects young shoots and the growing tip of plants. The
leaves become curled and distorted and new growth is killed. The
fungus causes spots on stems and leaves of infected plants which
develop into masses of bright yellow to orange powdery spores.
Based on the current distribution and spread of the disease, the
Myrtle Rust National Management Group (NMG) in December
2010 concluded that it was not technically feasible to eradicate it
in Australia. A series of response plans which focus on community
Photo credit: Dr. Louise Morin @CSIRO [link]
education and reducing the impact of myrtle rust on the natural
environment and commercial plantations has been developed.
Quarantine restrictions have been put in place to prevent the sale of
plants that have been infected with myrtle rust and the movement
of infected plants interstate
References:
Carnegie, A. J.; Lidbetter, J. R.; Walker, J.; Horwood, M. A.; Tesoriero, L.; Glen, M.; Priest, M. J.
2010. Uredo rangelii, a taxon in the guava rust complex, newly recorded on Myrtaceae in Australia.
Australasian Plant Pathology. 39(5). 2010. 463-466.
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