The Australian Grains Pest Innovation Program (AGPIP) is focused on supporting Australian grain growers transition to a more sustainable approach for management of invertebrate pests. AGPIP will make use of novel pest suppressive technologies such as endosymbionts, molecular approaches and predictive modelling, as well as other previously unexplored disciplines, for the management of pests. Additionally, the extension component of AGPIP will focus on translating the program’s research outcomes into grower guides and other management tools.

AGPIP will run from June 2019 to April 2024. 

Hear more about this project on YouTube.

AGPIP is a collaboration between the Pest & Environmental Adaptation Research Group at the University of Melbourne and Cesar Australia. The program is a co-investment by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and the University of Melbourne, together with in-kind contributions from all program partners.

Novel suppression and resistance management of invertebrate pests (UOM1906-002RTX).

Project contact: Dr Paul Umina

Bluegreen aphids (Acyrthosiphon kondoi) are pests of lucerne, pulses, medics, clovers, and pastures. These tiny pests feed directly on plant foliage, damaging the plant and spreading harmful plant viruses.

Growers have traditionally relied on insecticides to protect their crops from bluegreen aphids. However, Cesar Australia recently discovered the first known cases of bluegreen aphid populations evolving insecticide resistance. You can learn more about our recent discovery in this video.

Given bluegreen aphids have never previously evolved insecticide resistance, key unknowns remain about how the industry can tackle this evolutionary event.

Cesar Australia is leading two parallel projects, with investment from AgriFutures Australia and the GRDC, to help pasture seed and grain growers manage the emerging issue of insecticide-resistant bluegreen aphids. The projects have three core objectives: 1) gather information on the spatial and temporal variation of insecticide resistance in the field; 2) generate baseline data on the biocontrol options for BGA. Using this information, we will 3) develop pest management guidelines and communicate our research findings to the pasture seed and grains industries through multiple platforms.

You can help! If you, or someone in your area, has experienced bluegreen aphid issues, we request live samples be posted to our laboratories for resistance testing. Details on bluegreen aphid identification and biology can be found on our PestNote. For information on collecting and posting samples, contact Evatt Chirgwin at echirgwin@cesaraustralia.com or call 0487292556.

Bush Stone-curlews are a large, ground-dwelling bird endemic to Australia and are considered critically endangered in Victoria. To assist with conservation efforts, the Odonata Foundation in partnership with researchers at the Australian National University, has successfully established a captive-breeding colony at Mt Rothwell Biodiversity Interpretation Centre. This colony has grown in strength and capacity, and the team are now preparing to release a number of individuals into new sanctuaries.

Cesar Australia has partnered with Odonata in this project to lead the genetic management of the bush stone-curlews colony. Targeted non-invasive SNP genotyping methods are being developed as part of this project. These methods will allow individuals to be identified and sexed from feather samples, as well as assess their relationship with other individuals in the program. This is a strategic genetic approach to aid the captive-breeding program by helping to determine which individuals should breed so that overall genetic health of the population can be maintained. This approach will also be used to identify new founders for the program.

The establishment of such strategic captive breeding programs applying genetic methods are critical to the survival of the Bush Stone-curlew. The next step of this project involves a release of Bush Stone Curlews at either Orana Park sanctuary in Central Victoria (one of Odonata’s sanctuaries) or Phillip Island, in conjunction with Phillip Island Nature Parks.

Green peach aphid is a major vector of the turnip yellows virus (TuYV) in the Australian broadacre grain industry. With green peach aphid populations demonstrating varying levels of resistance to all five chemical options registered for use by Australian grain growers, developing a better understanding of the future resistance risks and protecting existing chemistries is a priority. Building on previous research undertaken by Cesar Australia and other project partners, throughout this project we will:

– Develop new methods to test insecticide resistance in green peach aphids to novel chemistries;

– Conduct a national insecticide resistance surveillance program and undertake widespread testing of green peach aphid populations;

– Provide updated resistance and TuYV management information that reflects resistance risks for new pesticides and patterns in the evolution of insecticide resistance;

– Develop prediction modelling on movement of aphid populations incorporating seasonal variation, plant host availability, and short- and long-distance dispersal; and

– Provide growers and advisors with information to support adoption of effective resistance management strategies in line with research findings

Watch this video to find out more about the background to this project.

This project is a Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) investment led by Cesar Australia in collaboration with CSIRO and WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD). Additional funding has been provided by Corteva Agriscience, BASF and ISK with in-kind contributions from all project partners.

Insecticide resistance in the green peach aphid: national surveillance, preparedness and implications for virus management (CES2001-001RTX).

Project contact: Dr Paul Umina

Eastern bristlebirds, Dasyornis brachypterus, are listed as endangered under the EPBC Act 1999. Cesar Australia have undertaken a series of genetic analyses over the last four years on eastern bristlebird samples to help guide in situ (and ex situ) management efforts. The remaining three genetic populations include the Southern population that has two discrete populations on the Victorian – New South Wales coastal border: Croajingolong National Park and Nadgee Nature Reserve.

Both areas were threatened by the 2019/2020 summer bushfires, with genetic analyses highlighting potential genetic issues and a need to qualify the extent of genetic concerns. The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) Victoria engaged Cesar Australia to undertake genotyping of eastern bristlebird samples from select populations and provide recommendations for their genetic management. This project involves Cesar Australia:

• microsatellite genotyping eastern bristlebird samples
• undertaking genetic analyses and contrasting results with those previously reported in 2019 and 2020
• providing recommendations based on the analyses around genetic rescue and restoration of the Croajingolong population and reintroduction to Wilsons Promontory, including source populations and founder numbers.

This project develop and deliver a genetic strategy and ongoing monitoring to help improve genetic fitness and resilience to assist with long-term prospect of survival. It is supported by the Australian Government’s Bushfire Recovery package for wildlife and their habitat, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) and Parks Victoria as part of the Victorian Government’s Bushfire Biodiversity Recovery program.

Photo credit: Peter Rowland

Insecticides are currently the most effective and widely used control method against RLEM (RLEM; Halotydeus destructor). The spread of insecticide resistance in RLEM (RLEM; Halotydeus destructor) to synthetic pyrethroids and organophosphates is of particular concern to the profitability of the Australian grains industry and demands a rethink of management approaches. This project will provide contemporary recommendations about insecticide resistance management and improved control methods for this pest.

This will be achieved by:

– Maintaining active resistance surveillance in RLEM to understand the insecticide resistance status across pastures and grain growing regions affected by this pest.

– Ensuring that the RLEM Resistance Management Strategy (RMS) continues to include best practice recommendations

– Exploring opportunities with agrichemical companies to increase the tools available to growers for implementing successful resistance management programs to control RLEM

– Investigating opportunities to use biologically-based approaches for RLEM control, including but not limited to biological molecules and extracts, native and introduced mite predators and parasites, entomopathogens, endosymbionts, etc.

– Gaining new knowledge in the biology and ecology of the RLEM (including an understanding of the summer diapause cues) which would allow for the development and release of new predictive decision-aid tools to support growers and advisors make better decisions around different management options.

– Running extension activities such as IPM demonstration sites to make research findings readily available to Australian grain growers to support widespread adoption.

This project is being undertaken in collaboration with CSIRO, the University of Melbourne and WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) with funding from Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).

Future options for the control of RLEM in Australian grain crops (CES2010-001RTX).

Project contact: Dr Paul Umina

This project aims to provide grain growers and advisors with information on invertebrate grain pest occurrence and equip industry with the knowledge needed to implement integrated pest management practices. A major delivery platform for this project is PestFacts south-eastern.

This is a multi-year project beginning in 2019 and running until December 2021.

The project is delivered by the National Pest Information Network, a group of entomologists and extension specialists at Cesar Australia , DPIRD, QDAF, NSW DPI, and SARDI. This initiative is a GRDC investment and includes in-kind contributions from all project partner organisations.

Identification, surveillance and advisory platform for management of grains pests (CES1904-002RTX).

The quality of diagnostic information and the speed at which it is collected has a direct effect on containment or eradication activities and, therefore, supply chain continuity.

A rate limiting factor for informed decision-making during incursion response is the delimitation of pest distribution from the initial detection site. Fortunately, species often leave indicators of their presence via trace amounts of DNA (environmental DNA). For example, a leafmining fly will leave DNA in its leafmines and in its frass, which we can detect using eDNA diagnostic techniques to confirm the identity of the pest.

Further, even within species there is variation in the risk that specific pests posed to production industries and it is becoming increasingly important to consider exotic incursions on a genetic level (‘genetic incursions’) in order to mitigate risks.

Cesar Australia activities within the wider Rural R&D for Profit project ‘Boosting diagnostics capacity for plant production industries’ aim to increase the effectiveness of verifying pest spread and establishment by:

– Developing resources to support building industry capacity in identification

– Analysing priority pests to identify good candidates for eDNA diagnostics and development of probes for high risk biotypes.

– Identifying and prioritising risks posed by genetic variants of exotic High Priority Plant Pests, and development of protocols for high risk biotypes.

The project is part of the collaborative program ‘Boosting diagnostic capacity for plant industries’. Funding for this project is from the Rural R&D for Profit Program, Federal Department of Agriculture and Water, and the Grains Research and Development Corporation, with funds from other RDC’s – Sugar RDC, Wine Australia, Cotton RDC, Forestry RDC, and Hort Innovation.