Download 16_pest diagnostic services - Secretariat of the Pacific Community

7th Regional Technical Regional Board Meeting of the Pacific Plant Protection
Organisation and
25th Regional Technical Meeting of Plant Protection
Nadi, Fiji, 25–29 June 2012
Agenda 16
Prepared by Tony G. Gunua
Pest and disease diagnostic services
Executive summary
Plant protection is a very important service that the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC)
provides to member Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs). This includes: insect pest
and disease surveys, pest identification, pest alerts, pest management and others. Correct
identification and recording of causal agents (pathogens, insects) of crop disorders is important
as the type of causal agent greatly influences management options, research agendas and trade
between countries.
SPC has been working with recognised and reputable institutions such as national herbariums
(FRI PNG), universities (University of the South Pacific) and scientists from biosecurity
organisations (Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service – AQIS) for authentication of
weeds/plant specimens. The nematodes, bacteria and fungi have been authenticated by the
Global Plant Health Clinic, which is part of the Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences
International (CABI). Some viruses have been authenticated at SPC while others with
phytoplasmas have been done by specialist scientists either from Land Care New Zealand or
AQIS. Most insect pests have been authenticated by taxonomists known to SPC entomologists.
Currently, SPC is negotiating with Land Care New Zealand to authenticate its insect specimens
at a reasonable cost.
While the cost of identification for insects and weeds has remained stable, the cost of
identification for nematodes, phytoplasma, bacteria and fungi by CABI to only species level has
risen dramatically in the last couple of years. SPC has been working with CABI because it has
authorised taxonomists, its response time is shorter, and most importantly it accepts live cultures
of bacteria and fungi. Because of the high costs involved in pest identification, forum is being
asked to consider instituting a regional pest diagnostic centre.
The centre could have the capacity to hold specimens, have some resident scientists, have
facilities that can extract DNA from specimens, and host taxonomists/specialists from the region
or abroad who come for short attachments to do pest identification. The centre would also
provide training to build the capacity of national scientists within the PICTs.
Recommendations to PPPO7

Seek funding to set up a regional pest diagnostic laboratory, preferably in Fiji, that will
provide authentication/identification service for insects, weeds, nematodes, fungi,
viruses, phytoplasma and bacteria.

The facility is to be part of the existing Plant Health and Biosecurity and Trade Support
programme of SPC.

The centre is to import pest specimens from PICTs in full compliance with import
guidelines set by the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (BAF). It will also follow guidelines
on treatment and disposal of refuse.

The centre is to host scientists from abroad for diagnostic work and those from within the
region for training and capacity building.