Zoologist puts deadly plant disease in perspective

There’s been an unusual addition to a research team at Murdoch University developing a new model for battling Phytophthora (jarrah dieback).

Dr Mark Garkaklis, a zoologist, has received a Murdoch Research Fellowship to help put the devastating plant disease in ecological perspective.

Dr Garkaklis is working with Dr Giles Hardy (plant pathologist) and Associate Professor Bernie Dell (plant nutritionist), examining the full impact of Phytophthora on ecosystems and the implications for conservation programs.

“Phytophthora was probably introduced when settlers imported plant material for agriculture during the expansion of the Swan River colony,” said Dr Garkaklis.

“At the end of World War II many tracks were constructed using infected gravel collected from under dead jarrah, spreading the disease over a large area of the southwest. Out of the approximately 8000 plant species in Western Australia, 2000 are susceptible to the disease.

“Other aspects of the environment as well as the plants may be affected. Beneficial fungi, such as truffles, may also be affected and this will have serious implications for the health of the whole ecosystem. Around 25 per cent of a tree’s nutrition comes from these truffle-and mushroom-type, or mycorrhizal fungi.

“Animals living in and around affected areas are also affected by dieback because they rely heavily on these fungi, and on nectar producing plants for survival. By the time the disease has run its course in Australia, the environmental degradation will be as devastating as salinity.

”The multi-disciplinary team is working with Dr Barbara Wilson at Deakin University to compare the progress of disease in the Mediterranean climate of Western Australia with the more temperate climate of Anglesea, Victoria.

In both States they are working in collaboration with scientists from Alcoa World Alumina, and will be conducting experiments on Alcoa mining leases.

“We are interested in looking at functional relationships in the ecosystems such as how the soil develops, whether rodents, kangaroos and other animals eat and spread truffles, and if birds use the area, said Dr Garkaklis.

“By gaining an understanding of the reproductive success of animals and the threat of extinction in affected areas, we can develop better ways of allocating resources and managing the biodiversity of those areas.

” The Murdoch research team is recognized as one of the best in this field, and students from many universities, including The University of Western Australia, La Trobe, Deakin and Adelaide have already applied to join the research group.

Dr Garkaklis hopes the three-year research project will provide a working tool and large-scale landscape models for resource managers and policy-makers.