Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) research scientists are developing new tools to strengthen the early detection and management of viral diseases in broadacre grain crops.
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) research scientists are developing new tools to strengthen the early detection and management of viral diseases in broadacre grain crops.
The research, being highlighted as part of National Biosecurity Week, will support improved crop disease management by farmers and feeds into a broader national initiative enabling the grain industry to manage the threat of high priority grains pests by improving national diagnostic and surveillance capability.
The National Grains Diagnostic and Surveillance Initiative (NGDSI) is a co-investment between the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and five state government departments.
DPIRD research officer Chi Cao said viral diseases could cause significant yield losses across cereal, canola and pulse crops.
“Symptoms in the paddock are not always enough to identify the type of infection, so laboratory testing is often required,” Dr Cao said.
“The current approach involves the use of multiple procedures to test for multiple viruses, which can be labour intensive.
“We are aiming to simplify the process for determining whether there is a virus in the crop and if so, which one or combination of viruses it is.”
DPIRD scientists have developed and validated a new transformative protocol that uses a single test up front to determine the presence or absence of multiple viruses. Subsequent diagnostics on the identified viruses are then performed on a single platform.
“The new protocol uses high-throughput sequencing which can detect both expected or unexpected viruses, which is what makes it so powerful,” Dr Chi said.
“As well as telling us what is present, tools like this help us be on the lookout for new and emerging viruses.
“Initial development has been on leaf samples from major Australian crops, including canola, cereals and various pulses (lentil, bean, lupin, and field pea).
“We are using equipment which is now commonly available in diagnostic laboratories, meaning that the methods will be transferable to our project partners and will be of benefit to the broader Australian grains industry.
“The use of high throughput sequencing allows us to obtain far more information and detail about the plant viruses present in our crops than ever before.
“Through this work, we hope to deliver increasingly powerful diagnostic tools which provide comprehensive information about the pathogen status in crops and reduce testing cost and time.
“It also supports early detection of any new or unexpected viruses, giving us the best chance of developing an effective management strategy.”
GRDC Manager Biosecurity Amy Koschella said early detection was one of the most effective tools available to protect Australian grain growers from exotic pests and diseases.
“Exotic threat incursions can have significant impacts on farm profitability and market access, with the potential to cost the grains industry millions of dollars each year,” Dr Koschella said.
“Detecting a threat early can mean the difference between a rapid, cost-effective response and a much larger challenge for growers and the broader industry.”
More information about the National Grains Diagnostic and Surveillance Initiative is available online here
