What is Myrtle Rust?
Myrtle rust (Austropuccinia psidii) is an introduced fungal pathogen that arrived in Australia in 2010. It spread rapidly throughout the east coast of Australia, impacting the ability of species in the Myrtaceae family to survive and reproduce. This family includes well known Australian plants such as the iconic eucalypts, lilly pillies, bottlebrushes, paperbarks and tea trees. These plants are synonymous with the Australian landscape, and many are found nowhere else in the world.
Action is needed to better understand species susceptibility, secure ex situ collections, and protect at-risk ecological communities before it’s too late.
CHABG and Botanic Gardens Australia & New Zealand (BGANZ) are seeking information from facilities that hold ex situ (off site) plant, seed or other germplasm collections of Myrtaceae species. This information will help the plant conservation community to better understand the representation of Myrtaceae species in ex situ collections nation-wide.
This survey closed at the end of November 2022. Analysis of the data is currently underway and results will be shared on this website in early 2023.
This survey is now closed,
however we welcome new data at any time!
The official survey closed in November 2022, however if your organisation holds conservation collections of Myrtaceae species, we would still like to hear from you! The more information we collectively share about Myrtle Rust, and the Myrtaceae held in ex situ collections, the better able Australia will be to manage native flora at risk of Myrtle Rust infection.
A copy of the survey will remain available for those interested in sharing their data. Completed surveys can be emailed to [email protected]
Information from this survey will be used to inform future prioritisation of myrtle rust-affected species and support the implementation of the Australian Government’s Threatened Species Strategy Action Plan 2021–2026.
Unsure which species are part of the Myrtaceae family?
You can cross-reference your collection here.
Acknowledgements
CHABG and BGANZ acknowledge the generous biosecurity funding provided by the Australian Government.
This funding support enabled CHABG and BGANZ to undertake a stocktake of Myrtaceae species held in conservation collections in botanic gardens, nurseries and seed banks across Australia and in some locations overseas.
