vegetables

28
The Front Line
Mediterranean fruit fly. Image courtesy of Scott Bauer,
USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org.
R&D
R&D
Market & Farm Productivity,
Value Chain Resource Use
Development & Management
where it was used to combat
isolated outbreaks of Medfly
from Western Australia. SIT
works by first knocking
down wild fly populations to
low levels and then flooding the
remaining population with sterile
male flies. These sterile flies
mate with female flies, resulting
in population collapse.
As an essential element of
the NFFS, a SITplus facility is
currently being built at Port
Augusta, South Australia.
Once the facility is operational
during the second half of 2016
it will develop and breed sterile
male fruit flies – up to 50
million fruit flies each week –
for release around the country.
Sterile fruit fly release will
be an essential element to
the success of the Area
Wide Management aspect of
the NFFS.
3. Adaptive Area Wide
Management of Qfly using SIT
(Qfly Area Wide Management
Coordinator Dr Penny Measham)
The project Adaptive Area Wide
Management of Qfly using SIT
is currently being facilitated
by Hort Innovation through
a Rural Research and
Development for Profit coinvestment
project (the SITplus
R&D initiative). It will develop
an Area Wide Management
(AWM) approach that will
enable more effective
management of Qfly in key
production regions.
The approach will be
‘adaptive’, which means that
it will incorporate advances in
SIT technology as they arise.
One component of the project
is the development of a habitat
suitability model, which will
lead to a better understanding
of where and when Qfly is
present. This information can
then inform decisions on the
allocation of resources for
AWM and SIT.
During implementation
of the strategy, the Fruit Fly
Council National Manager will
work closely with the SITplus
Consortium Program Director
and the Qfly AWM Coordinator.
Keep an eye on The Front
Line for updates from these
program managers.
In other news, the Victorian
Government recently
announced a $6.7 million
regional grants package
focusing on fruit fly traps, urban
tree removal programs, pest
monitoring and engagement
with schools and sporting clubs.
This pledge of funding
emphasises the significant
threat that fruit fly poses
to Victoria, which has a
horticultural industry with a
farm gate value of around $2.4
i
billion and horticultural
exports valued at $909 million
in 2014-15. The Victorian Fruit
Fly Coordinator Cathy Mansfield
will be tasked with rolling out
the 2015-2020 Victorian Fruit
Fly Action Plan.
AUSVEG wishes Ms Mansfield
and all parties involved in
the NFFS the best of luck in
tackling this issue. Without
effective buy-in from all parties,
fruit flies have an opportunity to
significantly damage Australian
horticultural regions and limit
future export opportunities.
In the next edition of The Front Line, we will investigate the goals and
outcomes of specific RD&E projects launched as part of the NFFS.
For further information on how you can contribute to the management
of fruit flies, please visit the Plant Health Australia website at
planthealthaustralia.com.au or contact the AUSVEG National Manager –
Scientific and Extension Dr Jessica Lye on 03 9882 0277 or jessica.lye@
ausveg.com.
Any unusual plant pest should be reported immediately to the relevant
state or territory agriculture agency through the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline
(1800 084 881).
This communication has been funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia
Limited using the National Vegetable Levy and funds from the Australian
Government.
Project Number: VG15027