Rust fungus introduced illegally in 1984

An illegally introduced rust fungus, Phragmidium violaceum, was introduced into Victoria, Australia, in 1984. The perpetrator was never identified, though historian Simon Farley from the University of Melbourne suggests the individual likely came from France. The fungus, known as raspberry rust, was first discovered in February 1984 when sick raspberry plants were found near Yarram, southeast of Victoria.

Fungus spread rapidly

Within days, the fungus had spread more than 100 km from the initial outbreak. A 2008 microbiology study confirmed the first report of the fungus in 1984, following an unauthorized introduction into the state. Someone had deliberately brought the disease without seeking permission from anyone.

Raspberry’s history in Australia

The introduction of the fungus dates back to the Australian summer of 1983-1984. The raspberry, cultivated by colonists since the 1840s, is today among the "weeds of national importance" in Australia. In 2017, the raspberry cost more than 100 million dollars annually in production losses and control costs.

Control methods and unauthorized action

Chemical and physical control methods proved insufficient, according to Farley. Biological control, which involves introducing a predator, parasite, or pathogen to eliminate a pest, was explored by researchers from the Keith Turnbull Research Institute in Victoria since the late 1960s. However, by 1984, the official route had not succeeded, and someone took the initiative.

Impact of the fungus

The rust fungus does not kill the raspberry but defoliates it, weakening the plant and reducing its ability to spread and reproduce. Landowners and media commentators welcomed this clandestine act, according to Farley, who notes the contrast with the usual reception of introduced species.

Official response and political implications

When the authorities validated the fait accompli from 1991, they released other strains of the fungus. A document from the agricultural services of New South Wales mentions the official release of the F15 strain in 1991 and 1992 after extensive host-specificity tests. For Farley, this official dissemination gave a form of tacit approval to the action of the unknown.

Political and environmental effects

The act also served as a political argument. When the minister for Primary Industry, John Kerin, advocated for a bill, he cited the illegal introduction of the rust as proof that more transparent regulation was needed. The outcome remains more mixed than the initial enthusiasm. The effect on the raspberry remained moderate, despite the commotion around the case.

Fungus spreads beyond Australia

The fungus has not stopped at the borders. In New Zealand, it was first noticed near Rakaia in 1990, and New Zealand researchers think it arrived there carried by the wind from Australia. Since the 1991 releases, eight other strains have also been released on the Australian side, without knowing which ones circulate on the other side.

Uneven effectiveness and ongoing challenges

The effectiveness of the fungus is not uniform. An official document indicates that it reduced the biomass of at least two raspberry species in the southeast of Victoria, while the 2008 study describes an interaction between the raspberry and the rust that follows a "gene for gene" model, where each strain only overcomes certain varieties.

Significant biosafety breach

Farley ranks the case among the most significant biosafety breaches of the last fifty years in Australia.