Webinar series

How to take part

Our monthly myrtle rust webinar series seeks to bring you the latest in myrtle rust research. You can view past webinars here and on the Beyond Myrtle Rust YouTube playlist.

Upcoming webinars

Australasian Myrtle Rust Conference 2025

16 & 17 June 2025, 9am-4:30pm NZST

It's almost here! We have an exciting line-up of talks for the Australasian Myrtle Rust Conference 2025, and online/virtual attendance is FREE, thanks to support from our wonderful sponsors. To access the conference programmes and the Zoom links from each day, head on over to the conference page: https://bit.ly/AustralasianMyrtleRustConference2025 

Please remember: All times are in NZST. Depending on where you are in the world, local time may also be a day earlier.

Hope to see you soon!

Previous webinars

Te Taiao, Te Tāngata

Presenter: Mark Harvey, University of Auckland, May 2025

Using eDNA to examine flower visitation of Lophomyrtus

Presenter: Andrew Pugh, Scion, April 2025

Alternatives to synthetic fungicides for myrtle rust control

Presenter: Rob Beresford, Plant & Food Research, March 2025

Seed-borne microbiome variation among Metrosideros excelsa (pōhutukawa) trees

Presenter: Vladislav Kholostiakov, University of Auckland, February 2025 

The molecular dialogue between Eucalyptus grandis and the myrtle rust pathogen

Presenter: Shae Swanepoel, University of Pretoria, November 2024  

Forest community attributes and myrtle rust vulnerability

Presenter: Kristy Stevenson, Queensland University of Technology, October 2024  

E heke e Heka! The myrtle rust learning app

Presenter: Katerina Pihera-Ridge, Scion, September 2024  

Beyond Myrtle Rust... and beyond!

Presenter: Mahajabeen Padamsee, Beyond Myrtle Rust Programme Leader, June 2024  

Evidence for sexual reproduction in myrtle rust pathogen Austropuccinia psidii

Presenter: Michael Bartlett, Scion, May 2024  

Using mating-compatibility gene markers to detect new incursions of Austropuccinia psidii  

Presenter: Thaís Boufleur, University of São Paulo, April 2024  

Ngā Rākau Taketake research into myrtle rust  

Presenter: Beccy Ganley, Plant & Food Research, March 2024   

Te Rātā Whakamaru: Community-science solutions for employment and myrtle rust resistance   

Presenter: Heidi Dungey (Scion) and Te Rātā Whakamaru, February 2024   

The foliar microbiome and implications for myrtle rust infection 

Presenter: Hayley Ridgway, Plant & Food Research, December 2023

What does myrtle rust resilience look like for Māori?       

Presenter: Alby Marsh, Plant & Food Research, November 2023

Putative pathogenicity transcript targets for control of Austropuccinia psidii     

Presenter: Grant Smith, Plant & Food Research, October 2023

Growing rust fungi on artificial substrates – A step closer to studying infection in the lab without using plants   

Presenter: Sarah Sale, University of Canterbury, September 2023

Ex situ conservation to support recovery of species severely affected by myrtle rust 

Presenters: Karen Sommerville and Veronica Viler, Australian PlantBank, Botanic Gardens of Sydney, August 2023

Restoration genetics of Syzygium maire

Presenter: Colan Balkwill, PhD candidate at Victoria University of Wellington, July 2023

Boots on the Ground – Rōhutu Preservation at Mahanihani

Presented by:  Nicky Reynolds, Te Korowai o Papatūānuku, May 2023

Pre-visual and early detection of myrtle rust on rose apple  

Presented by: Michael Watt, Scion, April 2023 

Understanding and managing impacts with a focus on long-term conservation

Presenter: Craig Stehn, NSW Government, Australia, March 2023

Mapping genetic loci linked to myrtle rust resistance in mānuka 

Presenter: David Chagné, Plant & Food Research, February 2023

Melaleuca quinquenervia; towards a model for myrtle rust research

Presenter: Alyssa Martino, The University of Sydney, December 2022

Te Mana Motuhake o te kākano: What seed sovereignty means for us

Presenter: Melanie Mark-Shadbolt, Te Tira Whakamātaki, November 2022

Optimising fungicide sprays for myrtle rust control in plant nurseries 

Presenter: Robert Beresford, Plant & Food Research, October 2022

Exogenous RNAi inhibits infection physiology myrtle rust in planta

Presenter: Rebecca Degnan, The University of Queensland, August 2022

Using metabolites as biomarkers to ID resistance to myrtle rust and to detect early-stage infection 

Presenter: Michelle Moffit, May 2022

Chasing fungal antagonists of the myrtle rust fungus in Brazil 

Presenters: Robert Barreto & Gleiber Quintão, June 2022

The ecological importance of the Myrtaceae in the woody ecosystems of New Zealand

Presenter: Insu Jo, April 2022

Finding and developing genetic resistance to disease in forest trees

Presenter: Richard Sniezko, July 2022

From surveillance to epidemiology: learning from myrtle rust

Presenter: Rebecca Campbell, March 2022

Molecular detection of different strains of Austropuccinia psidii 

Presenter: Jane Stewart, February 2022

Unprecedented extinction of tree species by fungal disease

Presenter: Rod Fensham, December 2021

Can seed banking fleshy Myrtaceae seeds buy time in the myrtle rust battle?

Presenter: Karin van der Walt, November 2021

Can different strains of Austropuccinia psidii outcross on a universal host?

Presenter: Alistair McTaggart, October 2021

Predicting future spread of myrtle rust in Aotearoa New Zealand

Presenter: Rob Beresford, September 2021

Monitoring the impact of Austropuccinia psidii on native Myrtaceae in the ngahere

Presenter: Roanne Sutherland, August 2021

Austropuccinia psidii rust (myrtle rust) in the Western Hemisphere

Presenter: Phil Cannon, July 2021

Harnessing foliar fungal communities for endangered plant conservation 

Presenter: Mason Kamalani Chock, June 2021

RNA interference-mediated control of myrtle rust

Presenter: Anne Sawyer, May 2021

Strings attached: Managing ex-situ plants highly susceptible to pathogens

Presenter: Emma Bodley, April 2021

Austropuccinia psidii: the threat of other strains 

Presenter: Julia Soewarto, March 2021

Chasing myrtle rust in NZ: biosecurity response diagnostics and beyond

Presenter: Merje Toome, February 2021

The other pandemic: unlocking the Austropuccinia psidii genome to help fight myrtle rust 

Presenter: Peri Tobias, December 2020

Fire and rust: The impact of myrtle rust on post-fire regeneration in Australia

Presenter: Geoff Pegg, November 2020