Summary

The Australian truffle industry is relatively new with the first truffle produced only 15 years ago but has become an important commodity. Production in 2014 is expected to be 8 tonnes with at least 85% of truffles exported.
The lead time from planting to commercial production of truffles and orchard maturity is 10-12 years. As production is now significant and increasing, the range of pests and diseases and the extent of associated economic loss is now becoming apparent. This presents an important management challenge to growers across Australia.
Pest management in truffle orchards is relevant to both the establishment and ongoing maintenance of host trees. Also the yield and quality of the truffles are affected by invertebrate pests directly as well as indirectly through their contribution to truffle rot.
Management of invertebrate pests has been undertaken largely on an ad hoc basis with little input from specialists. Information and advice for specific pests is generally lacking and the identification of many pests especially the invertebrates is rudimentary.
This project seeks to systematically identify and catalogue the range of pests and diseases observed in Australian trufferies and to progress the development of an information package to growers on orchard best management practice. This will be achieved by collating data from grower surveys and initially in Western Australia focussed trufferie monitoring. A conduit for growers to have potential pests identified will be made available. Slugs, snails and collembolans, which are already recognised as pests, will be investigated in detail.
Information on endemic pests and diseases identified in this project will be cross-referenced with overseas information from a literature review and contact with overseas colleagues. This will be available for the development of a biosecurity manual.

Program

New and Emerging Plant Industries

Research Organisation

Western Australian Agriculture Authority, a body corporate established under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007

Objective Summary

To identify the range of pests and diseases present in truffle orchards and truffles in each state, beginning with WA.
To produce an information package that improves truffle production through the efficient management of the major pests and diseases of truffles and their host trees.
To commence the production of detailed management options of the major pests and diseases for growers incorporating integrated pest management principles.
To facilitate the export trade of truffles, cross-check endemic pests against international phytosanitary/quarantine requirements. This will also provide a foundation for recommendations for future research.
To provide a database of endemic pests and diseases for the development of the Australian truffle industry biosecurity manual.