Building diagnostic and high throughput surveillance capabilities for high priority pests - Developing pre- and post-entry high throughput surveillance and supporting insect and nematode diagnostic capabilities for national / high priority plant pests

SARDI proposes to:

Develop pre and post entry surveillance capability for exotic cyst nematode species.

The project will focus on

1. developing high throughput Taqman MGB assays for selected species,
2. evaluating limit of detection of the assays in field samples and developing sampling recommendations, including appropriate composite sample size and number required to detect specified levels and
3. developing surveillance protocols.

Support insect pest identification by

1. updating the WINC collection with vouchered specimens of endemic close-relatives (i.e. potential confounding off-targets) of Khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium), Tomato potato psyllid (TPP, Bactericera cockerelli) and Asian and African citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri and Trioza erytreae),
2. linking them to sequence data of commonly used key diagnostic gene targets and (iii) integrating this information into the EMu collection database.

Validate the specificity of molecular assays previously developed by the MDC for the detection of Khapra beetle and Tomato potato psyllid using a large collection of endemic and native specimens.

Provide expertise in the area of diagnostic capacity building through provisions of extension and training workshops on priority biosecurity pests for consultants, growers and 'on-the-ground' personnel.

Carry out targeted blitzes for Khapra beetle and Tomato potato psyllid to confirm area freedom and support market access.