VICTORIAN blueberry growers have been put on alert after the discovery of blueberry rust in the State in early September.
Blueberry rust (Thekopsora minima) is a fungal disease of a range of plants in the Ericaceae family, including blueberries, cranberries and rhododendrons.
According to the Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries (VDEPI), the rust has not been found in blueberry crops nor in any other commercial stock to date, and only one source for the spread of the disease in Victoria has been identified.
The discovery has prompted the Western Australia and Tasmanian governments to impose a restriction on the movement of blueberry host materials into their states from Victoria, to prevent the potential spread of the disease.
This includes the trade of fruit grown or packed in Victoria, plus plants including potted, bare rooted and cuttings; germplasm grown in sterile conditions as tissue culture plants; and diagnostic samples for scientific or research purposes.
The restrictions apply to all host material grown and packed within 200km of the detection.
The outbreak of blueberry rust was discovered in the Melbourne metropolitan area. It was the first instance of the disease occurring in Victoria but it has been present in parts of New South Wales and Queensland for many years.
While NSW produces about 88 per cent of Australia's blueberries, Victoria has increased plantings in recent years particularly in organic and bio-dynamic production.
The Victorian blueberry season runs from about December to April.
The nursery industry has taken the lead in disseminating information with the Nursery and Garden Industry Victoria (NGIV) e-mailing out updates since the disease’s discovery.
The VDEPI says severe infections can cause widespread defoliation and loss of plant vigour, resulting in reduced berry yields and potential plant death.
The VDEPI is continuing to investigate the distribution of the disease in Victoria with the aim of determining whether it can be eradicated.
It is also investigating how the rust arrived in the State in the first place.
Arrangements have been made for the stock from the infected premises to be removed from sale and/or treated.
