Poster Presentation Science Protecting Plant Health 2017

Risk Management of Angular leaf spot in trade (#241)

Gemma A Bach 1 , Ines Carrin 1
  1. Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, Canberra, ACT, Australia

Since its eradication in 2011-2012 from Bundaberg Qld, Australia has been considered free of angular leaf spot (ALS -caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas fragariae). ALS can infect all vascular tissue including the crown, leaves, roots, petioles, stolons and calyx as well as daughter plants, resulting in reduced yield in infected strawberry crops. The bacterium causes the underside of leaves of strawberry plants to form water-soaked lesions which may develop into necrotic tissue and exude a bacterial ooze. However the main economic damage is often attributed to the loss of marketability of strawberry fruit through infection of the calyx. Xanthomonas fragariae was first identified in Minnesota, USA in 1962 and has since been reported throughout the world. We will discuss the range of risk management measures that are available through the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs), in particular: area freedom under ISPM 4: Requirements for the establishment of pest free areas and ISPM 10: Requirements for the establishment of pest free places of production and pest free production sites or a systems approach using the integration of different risk management measures under ISPM 14: The use of integrated measures in a systems approach for pest risk management. International trade is important for the Australian economy and managing the risks associated with the importation of fresh food commodities is critical for Australia’s agricultural future.