Current Research 

National Research Priorities

The following research priorities were identified in the 2005 review of the National Threat Abatement Plan by the Center for Phytophthora Science and Management.

High Priority

• Determine the susceptibility to P.cinnamomi of the habitat of national and state listed vertebrate and invertebrate fauna using national standard methods.
• Determine the susceptibility to P.cinnamomi of national and state listed flora and ecological communities using national standard methods.
• Investigate methods to eradicate P.cinnamomi from infested sites, and investigate alternatives to phosphite.
• Determine the effectiveness of current management procedures.
• Investigate the epidemiology and mechanisms of survival by P.cinnamomi in the range of ecosystems it affects.
• Develop and implement monitoring programs to study the long-term direct and indirect impacts of P.cinnamomi in natural ecosystems. As a matter of urgency make provisions for the continued monitoring of already established sites, such as those in Victoria established by Dr Gretna Weste.
• The distribution of P.cinnamomi is inadequately known in many areas of Australia, which has serious implications for managing spread. Nationwide programs for mapping distribution are urgently required.

Medium Priority

• Investigate the use of phosphite for the management of P.cinnamomi in susceptible ecological communities of South Australia, Tasmania , New South Wales and Queensland.
• Explore alternative methods to the detection and diagnosis of P.cinnamomi to facilitate accurate and cheaper production of operational scale distribution maps.
• Develop national standard methods for testing the susceptibility of flora to P.cinnamomi and for classifying ecological communities for susceptibility to P.cinnamomi.
• Develop a program of resistance breeding for susceptible plant species that are critically endangered.
• The long-term cost to the Australian economy of environmental degradation due to P.cinnamomi has not been calculated, which would undoubtedly make a compelling argument for greater commitment to managing the threat.
• More understanding and awareness is needed of the effectiveness of legislation and the interrelatedness of Commonwealth and State legislation, and the potential impact on P.cinnamomi management.

Lower Priority

• Investigate the target and non-target effects of phosphite.
• Develop methods for restoration of sites highly degraded by P.cinnamomi.
• The development of cost effective and accurate methods for the rapid diagnosis of P.cinnamomi is required (Australia – wide).
• Investigate the impact of wild-fire and fire management regimes on disease expression, spread and intensity.