Myrtle rust found on four sites in and around Nelson

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

Myrtle rust has been found on ramarama and pōhutukawa trees in and around Nelson city. Severe infections of myrtle rust could kill affected susceptible plants and have long-term impacts on the regeneration of young plants and seedlings. A Ministry of Primary Industries surveillance team found the new infections on four sites in the area recently.

The airborne disease has spread from the North Island and was found in the South Island in Collingwood, Golden Bay earlier this year. Myrtle rust affects plants in the myrtle family, which includes pohutukawa, manuka, rata, kanuka, swamp maire and ramarama, as well as commercially-grown species such as eucalyptus, feijoa and New Zealand cranberry.

The spores are thought to have crossed the Tasman Sea from Australia to New Zealand on wind currents. Over the long term, 10 to 20 years, myrtle rust could affect iconic New Zealand plants including pōhutukawa, mānuka, rātā, kānuka, swamp maire and ramarama, as well as commercially-grown species such as eucalyptus and feijoa.

Severe infections could kill affected susceptible plants and have long-term impacts on the regeneration of young plants and seedlings.

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Image: MPI