The first known case of mature tree death due to myrtle rust infection has been observed in the East Cape of Aotearoa New Zealand, suggesting localized extinction for some native myrtles could become a reality.
“I’ve been monitoring myrtle rust in native forests for the last three years,” says Roanne Sutherland, a myrtle rust researcher at SCION. “We’ve had seedling death occur, but this is the first time the deaths of large, mature trees have been reported.”
You can help if you see myrtle rust, by not touching it, and taking photos to upload to citizen science app iNaturalist.nz. For more information about the disease, see www.myrtlerust.org.nz
READ MORE (link to: https://bioheritage.nz/mature-native-trees-now-dying/)
“I’ve been monitoring myrtle rust in native forests for the last three years,” says Roanne Sutherland, a myrtle rust researcher at SCION. “We’ve had seedling death occur, but this is the first time the deaths of large, mature trees have been reported.”
You can help if you see myrtle rust, by not touching it, and taking photos to upload to citizen science app iNaturalist.nz. For more information about the disease, see www.myrtlerust.org.nz
READ MORE (link to: https://bioheritage.nz/mature-native-trees-now-dying/)