Pest Freedom from Urocystis cepulae, onion smut

Publication Date

Tue, 11 Jun 2019, 00:38

Last Updated

June 11, 2019, 12:38 a.m.

Report Number

AUS-93/1

Country

Australia

Pest Id

Urocystis cepulae - (UROCCE)

Report Status

Final

Hosts

Smut most commonly affects onions, shallots, chives, and leeks.

Pest Status (old values from ISPM 8 -1998 )

• Absent: pest eradicated
• Absent: pest no longer present

Pest Status (ISPM 8 - 2021)

• Absent: pest eradicated
• Absent: pest no longer present

Summary

Onion Smut was first detected in 1950 in Adelaide, South Australia with a second detection in 1964. In 1966, an additional detection was reported from New South Wales. In all cases, regulatory and eradication procedures were implemented to manage the outbreaks. From 1979 on, South Australia reported a further 18 onion smut detections, with the last occurring in 2002 at Purnong Landing. All occurrences were subject to official control and eradication, in accordance with measures defined under the South Australia Plant Quarantine Standard. Following outbreaks, South Australia also mandates that a quarantine zone be established around detection sites for a period of 15 years before freedom status can be reinstated. This is consistent with reports from the literature on the longevity of teliospores in the soil. Concurrently, and to facilitate ongoing onion trade, South Australia also conducted annual surveillance of more than 90% of the States’ Allium production between 1979 and 2009 with no positive identifications made. All defined quarantine sites have since been removed from South Australia’s Plant Quarantine Standard. Given the last known onion smut detection in Australia occurred in 2002, with quarantine zones being maintained until October 2017, onion smut freedom status should be reinstated for all of Australia.

Danger

In 2017, quarantine zones for onion smut were lifted following 15 years of no positive identifications from surveys in South Australia. Onion smut has been declared eradicated from Australia.

Contact for info

Australian Chief Plant Protection Officer Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources GPO Box 858 Canberra ACT 2601 [email protected]

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