AU: Research to manage biosecurity threat in veg
The recently commissioned research, worth over $1.1 million, will characterise the DNA sequence information for tospoviruses currently present in Australia, and those that are a potential biosecurity risk to Australian and Indian vegetable growers.
The partnership with BRI will allow Australian researchers to effectively develop management and control strategies for tospoviruses that are listed as a high risk in the Australian Vegetable Industry Biosecurity Plan.
The research objectives will also include use of novel tools to develop broad spectrum resistance to a number of tospoviruses in different vegetable crops, such as capsicum and chillies.
The research will be undertaken at the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), the University of Queensland (UQ) in Australia and BRI in India.
Hort Innovation CEO, Mr John Lloyd, said the research partnership is a critical first step in addressing biosecurity risk due to a tosposvirus, particularly the Watermelon Silver Mottle Virus (WSMoV).
Hort Innovation and BRI are also discussing other areas of research in horticulture including the marker-assisted breeding in vegetables.
For more information:
Amy Braddon
Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited
Tel: +61 02 8295 2333
Fax: +61 02 8295 2399
Email: amy.braddon@horticulture.com.au