A University of Queensland (UQ) student’s research has found a way to control a disease that has plagued one of Australia’s most important native floriculture products and won her a coveted award.
Naomi Diplock, a Bachelor of Applied Science Honours student at UQ’s Gatton Campus, was awarded the WW Bryan Memorial Medal after identifying the cause of shoot dieback in Geraldton Wax, the environmental factors influencing infection and a preventative treatment.
The disease has been a significant problem for South East Queensland’s emerging native flower industry, causing the popular species to die back from the tips leaving shrivelled, brown leaves attached to the plant.
Ms Diplock found the disease resulted from the Colletotrichum pathogen infecting Geraldton Wax plants during periods of heat stress and humidity. Contrary to initial speculation, infection was not influenced by any wounding to the plant.
A series of trials indicated preventative treatment using the fungicide Amistar® was the most effective means of preventing the pathogen’s infection of commercial crops and the subsequent shoot dieback disease.
Project supervisor Dr Vic Galea said Ms Diplock’s award was fitting recognition of the significant advances she had made in tackling a disease that has held back the development of commercial Geraldton Wax crops in South East Queensland.
“Until now very little was known about shoot dieback, let alone how to control it. Naomi’s work has helped unlock those secrets and some of the economic potential of this crop,” Dr Galea said.
Ms Diplock, who grew up at Nambour on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, said her 12-month research project had sharpened her interest in plant science and opened up some exciting career opportunities in Queensland’s fast-growing $1.4 billion horticulture industry.
“I’m very grateful that through my research I have been able to contribute something to the floriculture industry and being awarded the WW Bryan Memorial Medal is a real honour,” Ms Diplock said.
“I’m now looking forward to developing my career in plant science and would like to thank all those at UQ Gatton, including Dr Galea, who have helped me get this far.”
The WW Bryan Memorial Medal has been awarded annually since 1972 by the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology’s (AIAST) South East Queensland branch. The medal is awarded to the student undertaking the Honours year of UQ’s Bachelor of Applied Science program who is judged to have submitted the best research project.
Media: For more information contact Naomi Diplock (telephone 0403 740 123), Dr Vic Galea, Project Supervisor (telephone 5460 1282) or Brad Henderson, Marketing Coordinator, Faculty of NRAVS (telephone 07 5460 1229 or 0409 265 587).
