June GTGs updates including content from the Australasian Myrtle Rust Conference
Another month has passed which brings us to the June updates for Gum Tree Guardians. As always we start with a big welcome to the 14 new members of the project and thank you to the current members who have continued to add myrtle rust observations.
With winter in full swing, we expect to see less myrtle rust infection across the country. This was reflected in the downtick in June observations, with 18 new observations added to the project over the month. Observations spanned from Yeppoon in Queensland, down to Melbourne with infection observed on Melaleuca quinquenervia, Xanthostemon chrysanthus, Rhodamnia rubescens, Rhodamnia acuminata, Gossia acmenoides, Asteromyrtus symphyocarpa, Callistemon sp Hinchinbrook, Metrosideros excelsa, Syzygium jambos, and Melaleuca trictostachyea.
Remember, if you come across a myrtle rust infected plant, don't touch it. The spores can spread easily, so it's best to keep your hands off. Take a picture of the infected material and some photos of the entire plant to help us identify the host plant. Then upload the photos to iNaturalist, including the location, which will automatically add the images to the Gum Tree Guardians project.
While June was a quiet month for myrtle rust infections, it was a busy time for expects working in the myrtle rust space. The Australasian Myrtle Rust Conference was held at The University of Sydney from June 21 – 23rd and brought together experts from Australia, New Zealand and beyond to discuss the current state of research and management of the pathogen at a domestic and international level.
If you haven’t already, check out the highlights of the event below!
You can view all of the talks from the 3-day event on the Australian Network for Plant Conservation’s YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@AnpcAsnAu. The Network’s website has also put together some great resources and information on myrtle rust. Be sure to head over to their website if you haven’t already: https://www.anpc.asn.au/myrtle-rust/
Being a Gum Tree Guardian is about more than just monitoring and reporting on myrtle rust infected plants. It's also about raising awareness of the importance of Myrtaceae plants in our unique ecosystem. If your friends or family aren't already part of the Gum Tree Guardians project on iNaturalist, why not encourage them to join us and start making a difference today?
Together, we can protect our native Myrtaceae plants and preserve our beautiful ecosystem for generations to come. Thank you again for your contributions,
Alyssa
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