News

Published in Biology, this article details the development of a simple detection system that can quickly tell apart four important thrips species that attack crops in southern China; including one globally invasive species; the western flower thrips.

This study examined official border inspections from several countries to understand how often and where Cenopalpus mites are being transported, highlighting the importance of continued surveillance and accurate identification of mites in plant trade to support plant biosecurity and prevent the establishment of new pests.

This study in the Journal of Economic Entomology provides 2 major advances that strengthen molecular diagnostics for Liriomyza pest species of biosecurity concern in Australia.

Published article in Viruses journal characterising viral populations associated with cassava in Kenya. In this study, cassava samples obtained from major cassava growing regions in Kenya were analyzed by Illumina sequencing. Results identified the most abundant viruses and characterized their genome-wide variation, identified genetically stable and hypervariable areas, establishing the foundation to develop improved diagnostic tests, and have wider implications for breeding virus-resistant cassava.

This study establishes a practical framework for CRISPR-Cas13a diagnostics in plant pathology and provides a low-infrastructure strategy that could improve the speed and accuracy of fire blight surveillance and broader agricultural biosecurity efforts.

We are thrilled to announce the publication of a new National Diagnostic Protocol (NDP) for exotic leafhopper vectors of Australia’s number 1 National Priority Plant Pest, Xylella species.

A comprehensive 5 day workshop, Nematodes in cropping systems: identification & techniques 2027, is scheduled for February 2027 at the Australian National University in Canberra.

A new update to the National Diagnostic Protocol (NDP) for Australia’s number 1 National Priority Plant Pest, Xylella spp. has been endorsed. The NDP has been revised to include updated diagnostic methodologies to cover a broader range of species and sub-species.