In late September 2019, onion smut was detected on onions on one property near Murray Bridge in South Australia. The detection is subject to an eradication response with quarantine measures and regulatory controls in place.
In June 2019, onion smut was declared eradicated from Australia. This was following the lifting of quarantine zones for onion smut in 2017 following 15 years of no positive identifications from surveys in South Australia since 2002 at Purnong Landing. The quarantine period mandated was 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.