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Beyond Myrtle Rust news

  1. Final meeting for a collaborative programme

    The Beyond Myrtle Rust Programme held their fifth and final Advisory Group and Annual General Meeting on 12 October. The meeting was a celebration of all the hard work done over the last five years.

  2. New paper: Ramarama trees support diverse fungal communities

    A cornerstone of Beyond Myrtle Rust research has been establishing the baseline of a healthy, functioning ecosystem. Ecosystem functions, other microorganisms (e.g., bacteria and fungi), and the abundance of non-host plants are likely to be impacted as Austropuccinia psidii (the causal agent of myrt...

  3. Summer 2022/23 iNaturalist report: fewer myrtle rust observations than expected

    Due to the wet summer of 2022/23, myrtle rust was particularly visible to those on the lookout. However, observations reported on iNaturalist NZ were not as numerous as the weather and the apparent prevalence suggested they would be. Here’s a review of the observations from last season as researcher...

  4. Myrtle rust placed second as most reported fungus on iNaturalist NZ

    Did you know that myrtle rust is the second-most reported fungus on iNaturalist in New Zealand? Beyond Myrtle Rust chatted to Unitec Professor Peter de Lange about this interesting fact and about the overall value of iNaturalist.

  5. Inaugural Australasian Myrtle Rust Conference – building connections

    The inaugural Australasian Myrtle Rust Conference held in Sydney last month brought together researchers and biosecurity practitioners to share insights and findings from local and international research projects. Mahajabeen Padamsee and Beccy Ganley share their thoughts about the tremendous value o...

  6. Renee Johansen, a supporter of science and forests

    For four years, Renee Johansen worked tirelessly as project manager for Beyond Myrtle Rust. In April, she made a move to the Department of Conservation. We caught up with Renee this month to ask her for her insights into the myrtle rust space and to learn more about her exciting new role at DOC.

  7. Impacts of engagement through art

    Gradon Diprose, a social scientist on the Beyond Myrtle Rust team, contributed to a publication led by the Mobilising for Action theme of Ngā Rākau Taketake (NRT). The article unpacks how art projects can facilitate engagement with biosecurity risks and pathogens like myrtle rust.

  8. Researchers on the go – a season for conferences

    Beyond Myrtle Rust researchers were busy in May, presenting their research. Scion researcher Michael Bartlett represented at the Kaurilands Summit in Whangārei, and students Sarah Sale and Vladislav Kholostiakov presented at the International Congress on Biological Invasions in Christchurch.

  9. Concern for pōhutukawa grows following widespread myrtle rust infection

    Myrtle rust infections have been found on pōhutukawa trees in Auckland at unprecedented levels this summer. This season is also the first the disease has been reported on Auckland’s iconic Rangitoto Island.

  10. Ground-breaking RNAi research driven by Trans-Tasman collaboration

    A recent Australian-led study has demonstrated a method for halting the growth of rust fungi, including Austropuccinia psidii, the causal agent of myrtle rust.

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