Next generation national fruit fly diagnostics and handbook

biosecurity built on science

Next generation national fruit fly diagnostics and handbook

Mark SchutzeLecturer, Queensland University of Technology

Plant Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre


What is the problem?

The fruit fly genus, Bactrocera, contains over 500 species Most are of no economic concern; some are among the most destructive

pests of horticulture




pests of horticulture The exotic Oriental fruit fly (B. dorsalis) is arguably the most notorious

- think back to mid-90s ‘Papaya fruit fly outbreak’ Systematic relationships and taxonomy of the group is a fertile area of

research - especially for ‘species complexes’ where species ‘boundaries’ are unresolved; includes the

native ‘Queensland fruit fly’ complex




pests of horticulture The exotic Oriental fruit fly (B. dorsalis) is arguably the most notorious

- think back to mid-90s ‘Papaya fruit fly outbreak’ Systematic relationships and taxonomy of the group is a fertile area of

research - especially for ‘species complexes’ where species ‘boundaries’ are unresolved; includes the

native ‘Queensland fruit fly’ complex Many are readily confused with each other (exotic v exotic; exotic v native),

based on morphology or existing molecular diagnostic resourcesNeed to know what they are, and how to diagnose them


What are we doing about it?

Tools: - A suite of fruit-fly-specific, functionally relevant, species-level markers for

all National Fruit Fly Strategy high priority species in addition to key exotic/Australian and pest/non-pest species;

Novel genomic approaches to identify new molecular markers

- Integrating with ‘classical’ morphology- Fully-revised national fruit fly diagnostics resource integrating new tailor-

made molecular and morphological information.


What are we doing about it?

Capacity: - Fruit fly systematic training of the next generation of fruit fly integrative

taxonomists and extension workshops for front-line diagnosticians

Knowledge: - Of regional fruit flies, focusing on Bactrocera (most important regional

group)


How will this research be delivered?

Production of ‘Version 3’ of the Australian Handbook for the Identification of Fruit Flies. Hard copy and available online via PHA- Including new diagnostic images- Developed with national fruit fly diagnosticians


How will this research be delivered?

Delivery of ‘Diagnostics Workshops’ toward the end of the project- Follow up from workshop held at beginning of project

Publication in peer-reviewed journals of revised systematics of Bactrocera and new diagnostic protocols/markers


Who will benefit from this research? End-users:

- Subcommittee on Plant Health Diagnostics (SPHD)- Subcommittee on Domestic Quarantine and Market Access (SDQMA)- Qld DAF, NAQS, and NT DPI & Fisheries- NSW Department of Primary Industries- Vic DEDJTR- Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia (DAFWA); Primary Industries

and Regions South Australia (PIRSA); Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Tasmania

- Australian Chief Plant Protection Office, Department of Agriculture Office (DAG)- DoA Biosecurity Australia- Fruit fly research community

Beneficiaries- Range of horticultural industries at risk of exotic fruit fly invasion (e.g., stone-fruit

industry; tropical fruit industries)


Benefit for our horticultural industries

Build capacity in national fruit fly diagnostics- More rapid and robust border detections

- Knowing of ‘what’s what’; especially pest from non-pest, and native from exotic

Improved regulatory response following fruit fly detection or incursion; assist, maintain, and enhance market-access across the horticultural industry

Resolution of the most important domestic fruit fly species-complex: the Queensland Fruit Fly complex.


End-User Advocate’s Perspective

“Of the 69+ species that can be trapped in the Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy Fruit Fly Program the majority are native, non pests but there are a few lookalikes for the exotic targets (e.g., Bactrocera trivialis) we respond to. Improved diagnostics will remove the grey areas and improve response activities which provides a better outcome for industry. “


End-User Advocate’s Perspective

“Of the 69+ species that can be trapped in the Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy Fruit Fly Program the majority are native, non pests but there are a few lookalikes for the exotic targets (e.g., Bactrocera trivialis) we respond to. Improved diagnostics will remove the grey areas and improve response activities which provides a better outcome for industry. “

“Improved molecular diagnostic tools for fruit fly will allow for species-level identification of maggots collected from fruit in the field, greatly increasing the ability to detect incursions of exotic target species. In particular, this will facilitate detection of key exotic fruit fly target species which do not respond to currently available lures, and cannot be trapped as adults. At the moment, these species can only be detected by rearing adults from struck fruit, a time-consuming and impractical approach in the field”

Sally Cowen and David Britton (NAQS)


Future

We aim to greatly enhance the specificity and efficiency of fruit fly diagnostics based on a solid systematic framework. The future includes:

Broadening taxon coverage to continue to ‘fill gaps’ in target groups


Future



Resolving key concern species from the ‘difficult’ species complexes (e.g., Oriental fruit fly complex)


Future



Resolving key concern species from the ‘difficult’ species complexes (e.g., Oriental fruit fly complex)

Appropriately communicating outcomes of the research to domestic and international colleagues, governments, and regulatory bodies


Thank you

For more information, please email [email protected]

QUT: Stephen Cameron, Matthew Krosch, Jacinta McMahon, Francesca Strutt

PHA: Nicholas Woods, Rod Turner, Melanie BottrillQ-DAF: Jane Royer

DAFWA: Bill Woods, Sonya Broughton, Ian LaceyCollaboration with Karen Armstrong (N.Z. Lincoln Uni)

PBCRC is established and supported under the Australian Government Cooperative Research Centres Programme

Science

Next generation national fruit fly diagnostics and handbook