What was it all about?

This investment developed accurate surveillance tools and strategies for the detection of tospoviruses and thrips, enabling rapid responses and reducing impacts in nursery production.

Once these tools were delivered to industry, the investment also facilitated the adoption of best management practices by assessing how project outcomes and practices could be incorporated into existing nursery industry management and biosecurity systems such as Biosecure HACCP.

Specifically, the project:

• Improved understanding of the prevalence and changing populations of all tospovirus species and thrips vectors in nursery production regions
• Assessed the genetic variability and seasonal population dynamics of tospoviruses and thrips in nursery production systems, including the impact and interaction of neighbouring landscapes
• Developed smart surveillance diagnostic tools
• Developed, in consultation with industry members, a workable surveillance strategy for the detection of exotic tospoviruses in the nursery industry

This information was used to support nursery industry biosecurity more broadly, by informing surveillance strategies and management practices.