A fungal disease know as Myrtle Rust was found on a property in north NSW in April 2010.   The NSW Department of Industry and Investment is leading the activities to supress the outbreak.  This potentially a very threatening problem and is classified as Category 1, meaning that if it is detected and reported it will be acted on straight away.

The fungus that causes Myrtle rust has not been found before in Australia. It belongs to a group of fungi known as the ‘guava rust complex’. Myrtle rust can affect plants belonging to the family Myrtaceae a large family which includes many Australian native species, such as Eucalyptus species.

The rust has been identified as Myrtle rust based on the host range seen so far in Australia and the structure of its spores. Information is continuing to be gathered on its host range under Australian environmental conditions through surveillance activities, and laboratory-based host testing of a range of important commercial and ecological species of Myrtaceae.

The fungus causes spots on leaves and stems that develop masses of orange to yellow powdery spores. The disease most often affects young shoots and the growing tips of plants causing leaves to become curled and distorted. More information, along with photographs of host plants can be found on the Department of Industry & Investment NSW website.

This myrtle rust could potentially have widesspread effect on the natural environment and also have a serious effect on the commercial aspects of the native flower industry.  The majority of sites found to have the rust are retail and commercial nurseries in NSW, but be beware....if you have a lemon myrtle tree please inspect it for potentail rust infectation, and if you do find something, don't break off the leaves and throw away report them

National Exotic Plant Pest Hotline for reporting sightings: 1800 084 881

State contacts:

• South Australia: 1300 666 010
• Tasmania: 03 6233 3352
• Western Australia: 08 9334 1800
• Victoria: 13 61 86
• Queensland: 13 25 23
• Northern Territory: 08 8999 2118
• NSW: contact the Quarantine Domestic Hotline 1800 084 881

Picture of the rust can be found on

http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/biosecurity/plant/myrtle-rust

This complex of diseases is native to South America and is also present in the USA (Florida and Hawaii) and Mexico. It is not known how this disease entered Australia, however, rust fungi produce microscopic spores which are easily carried on the wind, on people’s clothing or on goods that are shipped around the world.