Plant Pathology: Plant disease diagnosis, advice and research.

What we do:

The Plant Pathology Branch provides a diagnostic, monitoring and advisory service for the Northern Territory. We also undertake research and develop disease management practices.

We identify plant diseases caused by various pathogens including bacteria, fungi, nematodes, phytoplasmas, viruses and viroids as well as non-living agents.

Plant Pathology is involved in research, to provide advice applicable to the Territory environment. This covers breeding and screening for disease resistance, control/ management and epidemiology. We are currently conducting research into the following:

• Citrus Huanglongbing (HLB)
• Banana freckle
• Fusarium wilt of bananas (tropical race 4)
• Grapevine leaf rust
• Mango diseases in Katherine
• Peanut leaf spots

Site navigation:

For more information feel free to browse through the webpage links on the right hand side.

We are part of the Northern Australian Diagnostic Network and maintain and develop a Northern Territory Plant Disease Reference Collection and database with planned link to the Australian Plant Pest Database. We also aid Biosecurity and Quarantine through the diagnosis of important exotic plant diseases such as grapevine rust. We provide inspections and indexing of plants in post-entry quarantine for interception of diseases. We also provide assessments and pathogen testing for the Nursery Industry Accreditation Scheme Australia (NIASA).