INDUSTRY BIOSECURITY PLAN FOR THE PAPAYA INDUSTRY Threat Specific Contingency Plan Papaya mealybug Paracoccus marginatus Plant Health Australia September 2011 Disclaimer The scientific and technical content of this document is current to the date published and all efforts have been made to obtain relevant and published information on the pest. New information will be included as it becomes available, or when the document is reviewed. The material contained in this publication is produced for general information only. It is not intended as professional advice on any particular matter. No person should act or fail to act on the basis of any material contained in this publication without first obtaining specific, independent professional advice. Plant Health Australia and all persons acting for Plant Health Australia in preparing this publication, expressly disclaim all and any liability to any persons in respect of anything done by any such person in reliance, whether in whole or in part, on this publication. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Plant Health Australia. Further information For further information regarding this contingency plan, contact Plant Health Australia through the details below. Address: Suite 1, 1 Phipps Close DEAKIN ACT 2600 Phone: +61 2 6215 7700 Fax: +61 2 6260 4321 Email: [email protected] Website: www.planthealthaustralia.com.au Plant Health Australia | Contingency Plan – Papaya mealybug (Paracoccus marginatus) 1 Purpose and background of this contingency plan ................................................................. 5 2 Australian papaya industry ......................................................................................................... 5 3 Pest information/status ............................................................................................................... 6 3.1 Pest details ............................................................................................................................ 6 3.1.1 Background ..................................................................................................................... 6 3.1.2 Life cycle ......................................................................................................................... 7 3.2 Affected hosts ........................................................................................................................ 8 3.2.1 Host range ....................................................................................................................... 8 3.2.2 Current geographic distribution ..................................................................................... 10 3.2.3 Symptoms ..................................................................................................................... 11 3.3 Diagnostic information ......................................................................................................... 13 3.4 Pest risk ratings and potential impacts ................................................................................ 14 3.4.1 Entry potential ............................................................................................................... 14 3.4.2 Establishment potential ................................................................................................. 15 3.4.3 Spread potential ............................................................................................................ 15 3.4.4 Economic impact ........................................................................................................... 15 3.4.5 Environmental impact .................................................................................................... 15 3.4.6 Overall risk .................................................................................................................... 15 4 Pest management ....................................................................................................................... 16 4.1 Response checklist .............................................................................................................. 16 4.2 Delimiting survey and epidemiology study .......................................................................... 17 4.2.1 Sampling method .......................................................................................................... 17 4.2.2 Epidemiological study ................................................................................................... 19 4.2.3 Models of spread potential ............................................................................................ 20 4.2.4 Pest Free Area guidelines ............................................................................................. 20 4.3 Availability of control methods ............................................................................................. 20 4.3.1 General procedures for control ..................................................................................... 20 4.3.2 Control if small areas are affected ................................................................................ 20 4.3.3 Control if large areas are affected ................................................................................. 21 4.3.4 Cultural control .............................................................................................................. 21 4.3.5 Host plant resistance ..................................................................................................... 21 4.3.6 Chemical control............................................................................................................ 21 4.3.7 Biological control ........................................................................................................... 21 5 Course of action- potential eradication methods ................................................................... 22 5.1 Destruction strategy ............................................................................................................. 22 | PAGE 3 Plant Health Australia | Contingency Plan – Papaya mealybug (Paracoccus marginatus) 5.1.1 Destruction protocols .................................................................................................... 22 5.1.2 Decontamination protocols ............................................................................................ 23 5.1.3 Priorities ........................................................................................................................ 23 5.1.4 Plants, by-products and waste processing ................................................................... 23 5.1.5 Disposal issues ............................................................................................................. 24 5.2 Quarantine and movement controls .................................................................................... 24 5.2.1 Quarantine priorities ...................................................................................................... 24 5.2.2 Movement control for people, plant material and machinery ........................................ 24 5.3 Zoning .................................................................................................................................. 25 5.3.1 Destruction Zone ........................................................................................................... 25 5.3.2 Quarantine Zone ........................................................................................................... 25 5.3.3 Buffer Zone .................................................................................................................... 26 5.3.4 Restricted Area .............................................................................................................. 26 5.3.5 Control Area .................................................................................................................. 26 5.4 Decontamination and farm clean up .................................................................................... 27 5.4.1 Decontamination procedures ........................................................................................ 27 5.4.2 General safety precautions ........................................................................................... 27 5.5 Surveillance and tracing ...................................................................................................... 27 5.5.1 Surveillance ................................................................................................................... 27 5.5.2 Survey regions .............................................................................................................. 29 5.5.3 Post-eradication surveillance ........................................................................................ 29 6 References .................................................................................................................................. 31 6.1 Websites .............................................................................................................................. 32 7 Appendices ................................................................................................................................. 33 7.1 Appendix 1: Standard diagnostic protocols ......................................................................... 33 7.2 Appendix 2: Resources