WA researchers warn that introduced sepcies such as
Lupin are in danger of catching native plant
diseases.
Image courtesy of Istockphoto

WA scientists are investigating the spread of diseases from native plant life to introduced crops, warning that climate change could pose an increased threat to agricultural growers.
 
Traditionally, research has focused on diseases moving from introduced plants to native species, but Professor Mike Jones and Dr Stephen Wylie from Murdoch University’s State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre say infection in the other direction is not as well understood.
 
"Agriculture has only existed in WA for 150 years. In Europe and Asia this happened thousands of years ago, but here there's still a new interface between native crops and introduced species," says Professor Jones.

"Hardenbergia has been in Australia for very long time, well before agriculture. But we've discovered in the greenhouse that it will infect lupin."

Research conducted by Jones and Wylie shows that the newly-identified Hardenbergia mosaic virus, originating from the native wisteria plant, can be transferred to the introduced lupin agricultural crop.

With native wisteria often growing on the borders of lupin fields, there are many opportunities for the virus to move across to the introduced species and infect it.

The disease could then move from lupins to infect other native and introduced plants, including endangered species.

Commercial nurseries also see the mixing of indigenous and introduced species, raising the possibility of diseases from native plants being carried back into the environment.

Viruses are usually transported via a vector from one plant to another, according to Dr Wylie. These vectors can be insects, pollen, soil fungus or the movements of animals.

"Due to climate change, there is also the possibility of a change in vectors, which means we may get new viruses appearing in crop plants and native species," says Dr Wylie.

"With more than 12,000 endemic plant species in WA Hardenbergia mosaic virus undoubtedly represents the tip of the iceberg.

"Because of the region's isolation over millions of years, it's probable that there are many undescribed families of viruses yet to be discovered."