We are pleased to have received funding from the Queensland Government’s Biosecurity Boost Grants Program for a new project aimed at improving the detection of Phytophthora cinnamomi and Phytophthora spp. while supporting smarter, more effective biosecurity responses in Queensland.
Phytophthora cinnamomi and many other species, are some of Australia’s most significant plant pathogens. They affect thousands of native plant species and pose a serious threat to the health, biodiversity and resilience of ecosystems across the Burnett Mary Region and rest of the country. Early detection is critical, as it enables land managers to respond quickly and reduce the risk of its spread.
However, detecting Phytophthora is not always straightforward. The reliability and practicality of available testing methods can vary depending on seasonal and environmental conditions, how soil samples are collected, and the laboratory techniques used.
This project will compare two commonly available soil-detection methods: traditional baiting and molecular testing. By evaluating both methods under seasonal field conditions, we aim to better understand their relative reliability, practicality and cost.
The research will take place in the Bunya Mountains, which support extensive populations of the culturally and ecologically significant bunya pine (Araucaria bidwillii). Protecting these landscapes is a high conservation priority, and reliable pathogen detection is an important part of that work.
We are proud to be undertaking the project in collaboration with the Bunya Peoples’ Aboriginal Corporation (BPAC). This partnership will help ensure the work is informed by the cultural significance of the Bunya Mountains and contributes to the long-term care and protection of Country.
Ultimately, the project is about choosing the right detection tool at the right time. Its findings will help inform more reliable and cost-effective monitoring, strengthen biosecurity decision-making, and support better protection of Queensland’s culturally and environmentally significant landscapes.
We thank the Queensland Government for supporting this important work through the Biosecurity Boost Grants Program. We look forward to sharing updates and findings as the project progresses.
This project is proudly supported by the Queensland Government’s Queensland Biosecurity Boost Grants Program.
