Annex

Pest free place of production for angular leaf spot (Xanthomonas fragariae)

July 2017

The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (QIA) has primary responsibility for ensuring that greenhouses are managed and maintained as pest free places of production for angular leaf (Xanthomonas fragariae).

A pest free place of production is supported by:

1. Registration of growers and greenhouses of strawberry for export to Australia. QIA will also provide training to growers to make them aware of quarantine pests for Australia.
   

2. Planting of 5th year certified plantlets or plantlets multiplied by growers from registered plantlets.
   

3. Visual inspection of all plantlets in the greenhouse and laboratory testing of samples from plantlets showing suspected angular leaf spot symptoms at the early growing stage.
   

4. Visual inspection of all plants in the greenhouse 4-6 weeks before harvesting and laboratory testing of samples from plants showing suspected angular leaf spot symptoms (if available) or on randomly collected samples from symptomless plants.
   

5. Exclusion of the greenhouse of a grower from export to Australia for that season where angular leaf spot is confirmed.
   

If angular leaf spot is detected during the on-arrival inspection in Australia, the consignment will be re-exported or destroyed and the supplying registered greenhouse/s will be excluded from export to Australia for the rest of the season. QIA will be required to investigate the cause of any such detections and report their findings to the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.