Improving plant industry access to new genetics through faster and more accurate diagnostics using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)

Project dates: 14/05/2019 - 22/07/2024

Project Summary

Rapid and safe access to new plant genetic stocks is crucial for plant primary Industries to remain profitable, sustainable and Internationally competitive. Imported plant species may spend up to three years in Post Entry Quarantine (PEQ) facilities undergoing pathogen testing, which can Impact the ability of plant industries to quickly adapt to new global market opportunities and access new varieties. Existing PEQ diagnostic platforms can be time consuming, resource Intensive and biological tests may produce ambiguous results. A diagnostic platform that is scalable, robust, accurate and rapid is needed for PEQ to expedite phytosanitary screening and allow imported plants to potentially move through the quarantine process more quickly.

Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) offers a fast, reliable and cost effective method to Identify all known plant pathogens In a single test. Since 2014, Murdoch University, the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR) and the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (NZ MPI) have been engaged in a Plant Biosecurity CRC funded project that has demonstrated proof of concept using NGS for testing viruses and viroids in imported plants in PEQ.


Chief Investigators

Other Team Members

  • Marie-Emilie Gauthier
 

Partners