Damaging parasitic worm discovered on Hervey Bay properties
A parasitic worm discovered on two Fraser Coast properties could spell trouble for the region’s farmers.
Fraser Coast
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A parasitic worm has been discovered on two properties in Hervey Bay in the past month, prompting concerns for farmers in the Wide Bay region.
A spokesman for Biosecurity Queensland said guava root-knot nematode was found on two properties in the city in February 2023.
The detection followed the first detection of GRKN in Queensland on a farm in North Queensland in December 2022, and earlier detections in the Northern Territory from September 2022.
“Biosecurity Queensland will undertake surveillance and tracing efforts to determine the extent of distribution of GRKN in Queensland,” the spokesman said.
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Commercial growers are being urged to look for the signs of GRKN and report any suspect symptoms to Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23.
Nematodes are microscopic, parasitic worms which live in the soil and can damage the roots of plants, stopping them from taking up water and nutrients.
Underground symptoms of GRKN can include galls, or abnormal growths, on the roots of infected plants.
In severe cases, there can be numerous and extremely large galls, with associated knotting of the roots.
Above-ground symptoms include stunted growth, wilting and leaf yellowing.
GRKN is a significant threat to our plant industries as it has a very broad host range that includes many vegetable crops, broadacre crops, ornamental plants and weeds. It is also able to attack crops that are resistant to other species of nematodes.
GRKN can affect many crops that are important to Queensland including chilli, coffee, cotton, ginger, guava, papaya, soybean and common bean, sweet potato, watermelon, tobacco, and ornamental plants.
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Growers are being urged to practice good on-farm biosecurity to reduce the risk of plant pests or diseases from entering their farm or property.
Measures included sourcing clean planting material from reputable suppliers and visibly inspecting plant material to ensure they look healthy and are free of pest and disease symptoms.
Anyone with concerns can report unusual or unfamiliar symptoms or plant damage to Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23 or via the online portal at www.daf.qld.gov.au
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