This report forms Milestone 104 of the project, NY18010 Ensuring Business Continuity during biosecurity incursions: Social and Economic research learnings for the Production Nursery Industry, led by the Nursery & Garden Industry Queensland (NGIQ). The project is funded by Hort Innovation, using the Nursery Industry research and development levy and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, notfor-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture.

This report forms Milestone 5 of the project, National grower-led surveillance system: A method for developing effective grower-led surveillance systems for plant production industries in Australia, funded by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources. This project is part of the Australian Government’s Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper, the government’s plan for stronger farmers and a stronger economy.
We thank our fellow CSIRO research scientists: Aditi Mankad and Ryan McAllister who have reviewed parts of this work.

This report forms Milestone 103 of the project, NY18010 Ensuring Business Continuity during biosecurity incursions: Social and Economic research learnings for the Production Nursery Industry, led by the Nursery & Garden Industry Queensland (NGIQ). The project is funded by Hort Innovation, using the Nursery Industry research and development levy and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, notfor-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture.

The webinar presents the social and economic challenges for production nurseries during a biosecurity incursion. The session looks at the economic and operational impacts and economic consequences of a biosecurity incursion, and presents three scenario exercises that provoke questions and challenge nurseries to risk assess and prepare to mitigate the threat.

Disinfestation of the various equipment and surfaces used in a production nursery form the basis of sound hygiene practices. Disinfestation procedures should be an integral part of all nursery growing processes, with regular reviews being carried out to ensure practices are being implemented correctly. The following outlines recommended disinfestation procedures for nursery equipment and surfaces.

This contingency plan provides background information on the pest biology and available control measures to assist with preparedness for an incursion into Australia of Sudden oak death (Phytophthora ramorum). It provides guidelines and options for steps to be undertaken and considered when developing a Response Plan to this pest. Any Response Plan developed using information in whole or in part from this Contingency Plan must follow procedures as set out in PLANTPLAN and be endorsed by the National Management Group prior to implementation.
This contingency plan was developed for the Nursery and Garden Industry Australia (NGIA), and therefore is focussed on production nurseries covered by this association. In the event of an incursion, operations not covered by the NGIA (e.g. retail nurseries) will not be eligible for Owner Reimbursement Costs, as defined in the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed (EPPRD), if affected by actions carried out under the Response Plan.

The purpose of this paper is to provide information on destructive soilborne fungal pathogens that can occur in production nurseries, how they can be spread and how they can be managed. Practical application of this knowledge will lead to healthier plants, as well as improved plant growth and greater uniformity. It will also help to minimise biosecurity risks. Several serious soilborne pathogens are being spread around the world with nursery plants. As “best practice” is fundamental to the production of healthy plants, short cuts should never be taken.

Background and general biology
In general, adult whiteflies are small (about 1 mm in length), white-winged insects. The immature stages are largely immobile, becoming attached to the surface of the leaf soon after hatching. All life stages are found on the undersides of the leaves (Fig. 1) and can be associated with significant economic loss and/or increased costs in production.

Various species of the fungus Cylindrocladium cause a wide range of destructive diseases in nursery plants and are particularly prevalent in more tropical areas. Cylindrocladium scoparium occurs worldwide, and is the most commonly reported causal agent of Cylindrocladium diseases in Australia, although a number of other species are also important pathogens including Cylindrocladium spathiphylli.

Aquatic plants perform a number of beneficial functions in aquatic systems. They help with nutrient buffering, bank stabilisation, sediment trapping, oxygenation of water, providing habitat for various organisms, giving shade, reducing evaporation and keeping water temperatures more stable.

In 2013 NGIA commissioned a project to investigate statistically valid systems and protocols for on-farm monitoring, inspection and surveillance for pests of biosecurity concern within production nurseries. The project, completed in 2014, has investigated national and international information and systems and has developed recommended monitoring, inspection and surveillance protocols that have the highest probability of success. NGIQ Industry Development Manager John McDonald provides details in this Nursery Paper on the key project outcomes for use within production nurseries.

Nematodes are a diverse group of microscopic, non-segmented round worms that are tapered at each end. There are over one million species and they have been estimated to account for 80% of all individual animals in the world. About half of all nematode species are parasites of marine animals (e.g. sperm whales), 25% are free-living non-parasitic soil inhabiting nematodes, 15% are animal and human parasites (e.g. heart worm in dogs) and 10% are plant parasites.

Myrtle rust (Uredo rangelii) has the potential to infect all myrtaceous plants in both our built (gardens & landscape) and natural environments plus a range of industries (nursery production, timber, cut flower, etc) more likely along the coastline of Australia due to suitable environmental conditions. Under threat from this disease, if it becomes widely established, are a number of identified threatened native plant species across Australia plus a number of endangered wildlife habitat(s) that could have a major impact on our natural biodiversity.

The purpose of this pest management plan is to provide production nurseries with knowledge of the range of mites that commonly can cause damage to plants, how they can be identified and effectively managed. Production nurseries are ideal environments for mite pests because plants are often lush and actively growing. As a result, mite populations can sometimes increase very quickly and produce outbreaks that cause severe damage. There are five major groups of mites that can cause damage to plants: spider mites, tarsonemid mites (e.g. broad mite and cyclamen mite), flat mites, eriophyid mites and astigmatid (bulb) mites.

Mealybugs are a specific type of scale insect from the family Pseudococcidae. They often secrete a thin covering of mealy wax across their body, hence their common name. Like other scale insects, mealybugs are sucking pests that can be present across all of Australia on many host plant species. Some species of mealybugs are very serious pests of particular plant species, others are not. Some species may feed on a large number of host plant species, others only on a small number. Mealybugs are most often present on leaves and stems, particularly in tight, protected spaces. However, some mealybugs feed on roots. For information on other types of scale insects, refer to the scale insect factsheet available on the NGIA website.