Detection of blueberry rust for a second time in Tasmania was a matter of when, not if, according to the Tasmanian-based president of the Australian Blueberry Association.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Tasmanian blueberry grower and president of the association Greg McCulloch said blueberry rust was one of those diseases that was nearly impossible to eradicate, despite the state Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE) declaring it so just under a month ago.
“The spores are microscopic and there’s thousands of them floating around...it [blueberry rust] is wind-borne so it travels a fair distance,” Mr McCulloch said.
“We [as an industry] are not surprised that it turned up on Costa’s farm."
Blueberry rust was first discovered in Tasmania a couple of years ago and an intensive eradication process was undertaken by DPIPWE.
However, last week it was confirmed at commercial blueberry grower Costa had found infected plants at its Sulphur Creek farm.
Mr McCulloch said blueberry rust found at a commercial property such as Costa means the disease definitely still had a foothold in the state.
“Places like Costa have rigorous testing and management plans in place, people like Costa are the people most vigilant about being on top of these things,” he said.
“Most small growers don’t have the vigilance.”
Blueberry rust has been found along the eastern seaboard of the country and has also made its way to Tasmania and New Zealand. The rust affects the leaves of the blueberry plant but can be carried in the blueberry fruit.
Mr McCulloch said the industry was not convinced the pest had been eradicated from the state.
“It’s just a management issue, but it’s not just as big an issue in Tasmania than it is for the northern regions, because of the type of berry we grow,” he said.
Tasmanian blueberry growers typically grow a deciduous type of blueberry plant, that breaks the cycle of rust each year.
Mr McCulloch said organic growers and those that use evergreen varieties had more to fear from the pest being in the state.
Blueberry rust was detected in Tasmania for the second time last week.