Puccinia psidii in New Caledonia

Publication Date

Fri, 31 May 2013, 00:00

Last Updated

June 2, 2013, 9:01 a.m.

Report Number

NCL-01/2

Country

New Caledonia

Pest Id

Puccinia psidii - (PUCCPS)

Report Status

Preliminary

Hosts

Myrtaceae species including Syzygium jambos, Melaleuca quinquenervia, Cloezia spp, Carpolepis laurifolia…

Pest Status (old values from ISPM 8 -1998 )

• Present: only in some areas

Pest Status (ISPM 8 - 2021)

• Present: not widely distributed and under official control

Summary

Myrtle rust was first detected in New Caledonia in Farino in the south province on Syzygium jambos in March 2013 and has been confirmed in April 2013. The fungus disease was subsequently confirmed in the north and in the east coast of the country. It is not known how Myrtle rust entered New Caledonia. Rust fungi produce microscopic spores which are carried by wind, people’s clothing, plants or goods that are shipped around the world. A decision was taken that eradication of the disease was not technically feasible due to the establishment of the fungus in many distant places from each other. Nevertheless actions of surveillance and punctual control continue to be led.

Danger

Myrtle rust is a disease that affects the Myrtaceae family of plants, which includes many endemic species of New Caledonia. A lot of these Myrtle species are used in revegetalisation after mining activities. This disease could have significant effects on the environment and on nurseries specialized in revegetalisation. The fungus that causes Myrtle rust belongs to a group of fungi known as the ‘guava rust complex’. This complex of diseases is native to South America and is also present in the United States of America (Florida and Hawaii), Mexico and Australia (since 2010). Climatic conditions in New Caledonia seem to be ideal to the development of the disease.

Contact for info

Aurélie CHAN Direction des Affaires vétérinaires, Alimentaires et Rurales (DAVAR) Service dInspection Vétérinaire, Alimentaire et Phytosanitaire (SIVAP) BP 256 - 98845 Nouméa New Caledonia [email protected] / [email protected]

Report files

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Issue keywords

Introduction Pest reporting