Phytophthora cinnamomi in Phytophthora cinnamomi in the Otway the Otway Ranges Ranges Cinnamon fungus or Eucalypt dieback
KEY POINTS
Cinnamon fungus is an introduced pathogen that can have serious consequences for the Otway native vegetation if not managed sensibly.
The Disease Triangle The Disease Triangle outlines the factors influencing disease. Figure 1. The Disease Triangle In order for the Pc pathogen to have an effect in the environment, all three disease factors must be conducive; the pathogen must be present, it must Host Susceptibility
There are no known practical means of eradication of cinnamon fungus in native ecosystems. Help reduce the spread of cinnamon fungus by washing down equipment & steering clear of areas known to be infected
What is Phytophthora cinnamomi? Phytophthora cinnamomi (Pc) otherwise known as ‘Cinnamon fungus’, ‘Eucalypt dieback’ and ‘Jarrah dieback’, is an introduced soil-borne pathogen that infects and kills susceptible plants. Pc is a type of water mould, which becomes more active in the landscape during wet and warm environmental conditions. Pc mainly affects the roots of infected vegetation, limiting its ability to uptake nutrients and water.
How is Pc spread? Pc is spread through the movement of infected soil from an infected location to an uninfected location. Infected soil can be unknowingly transported by a number of sources, for example on mountain bikes, earthmoving equipment and cars. The risk of a carrier spreading the pathogen increases with the amount of soil that is carried. As the water mould may be present in streams and dams within infected catchments, untreated water taken from such sources can also become a pathway of spread. Another major source of Pc spread occurs when planting infected seedlings from nurseries which don’t undertake adequate hygiene measures. virulence
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Pathogen
Disease ‘PC’
Environmental Conditions
have found a susceptible host and the environmental conditions must be suitable. When environmental conditions are conducive for the development of the disease (warm temperatures and high soil moisture), Pc can lead to dieback in over 1000 susceptible plant species.
How to manage Pc? There are no known practical means of eradication in native ecosystems. There are a number of ways to reduce the spread of Pc through the environment, including: • Equipment and gear washdown, • Limiting access to sites known to be infected and/or uninfected, • Nursery hygiene, and • Infected water treatment.
Where is Pc found? Pc has infected many areas of bushland throughout Victoria, including the Grampians, Brisbane Ranges, the Otways and the coastal forests of East and South Gippsland including Wilsons Promontory. It is also widespread in horticulture and home gardens across Victoria.
Phytophthora cinnamomi in the Otway Ranges Potential for Phytophthora cinnamomi outbreak on the Forrest Mountain Bike Trails
What can I do, as a Mountain Biker, to reduce the impacts of Pc?
Dieback of Grasstrees (Xanthorrhoea australis) has been found in the Yaugher bush, north of Forrest, in the Otway Forest Park.
Take notice of potentially infected areas
Is Pc the cause of Grasstree dieback in the Forrest Mountain Bike Trail area? Pc has been in the Yaugher area for many years, and since its introduction to the area, has had fluctuating adverse effect on the health of the native vegetation. These fluctuations are influenced by the factors of the Disease Triangle (above).
Washdown your bike and gear after every ride This is a great habit to get into, especially if you often ride through infected Pc areas like the Yaugher Trails of Forrest. The last thing we want is to carry the Pc pathogen to the next trails you ride.
You may notice unusual dieback of susceptible ‘indicator’ species, such as Grasstrees, Common Heath and Eucalypt species. Make sure your riding buddies are looking after the environment too
Grasstrees are considered highly sensitive to the Pc pathogen and their death is often considered an indicator of its presence in an area. However positive identification of Pc can only be undertaken by laboratory soil and plant tests. Laboratory tests have confirmed the presence of Pc in the Yaugher area, and the probable cause of the visual dieback symptoms. The last time the Forrest Mountain Bike Trail saw an outbreak of Pc, it likely stemmed from a high rainfall event in late 2007. Following the high rainfall in the Otways during the 2016 winter and spring, current environmental conditions are suited to another Pc outbreak.
Can Mountain Bikes spread Pc? Mountain Bikes may spread Pc via infected soil carried on frames and tyres, although the risk is relatively low given the small amounts of soil they might carry. © The State of Victoria Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning 2017 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. You are free to re-use the work under that licence, on the condition that you credit the State of Victoria as author. The licence does not apply to any images, photographs or branding, including the Victorian Coat of Arms, the Victorian Government logo and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) logo. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Printed by DELWP – Otway District ISBN XXX-X-XXXXX-XXX-X (print)
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