Infection of native plants by Phytophthora cinnamomi - key threatening process

Conservation status in NSW: Key Threatening Process

Description

Infection of native plants by Phytophthora cinnamomi was listed as a KEY THREATENING PROCESS on Schedule 3 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 [13 December 2002].

Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands is a soil borne pathogen that spreads in plant roots in warm, moist conditions. The pathogen appears to be widespread in coastal forests (Arentz 1974, Blowes 1980, Gerrettson-Cornell 1986, McDougall and Summerell pers. comm.), but may also occur at higher elevations, e.g. Barrington Tops. Phytophthora cinnamomi infects a large range of species. Susceptible species display a range of symptoms; some are killed, some are damaged but endure, and some show no apparent symptoms. In some circumstances, P. cinnamomi may contribute to plant death where there are other stresses present (e.g. waterlogging, drought, and wildfire).

Infection of native plants by Phytophthora cinnamomi has been identified as a threat to a number of threatened species: Plants - Epacris purpurascens var. purpurascens, Eucalyptus imlayensis, Genoplesium rhyoliticum, Leionema ralstonii, Tasmannia pupurascens, Westringia davidii, and Wollemia nobilis. Animals affected by loss of habitat: Southern Brown Bandicoot and Smoky Mouse

'Dieback caused by the root-rot fungus (Phytophthora cinnamomi)' is listed as a key threatening process under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999).

Threat abatement - priority actions

A number of priority actions have been identified for this key threatening process. Priority actions are the specific, practical things that must be done to tackle a key threatening process. They have been grouped into 11 overarching threat abatement strategies.

See all threat abatement strategies and priority actions for this key threatening process.