Lead Investigator: Professor Jeff Powell (WSU)

Co-Investigators: Professor Uffe Nielsen (WSU)

Project Summary: Infection of native plants by Phytophthora cinnamomi (Pc) is a key threatening process in NSW and drives loss of biodiversity. Phytophthora cinnamomi is likely to be present throughout the Cumberland Plain, but we lack standardised data to be able to map its distribution and its impacts. This project will use metabarcoding of Phytophthora and other oomycetes to detect the presence of this and other related pathogens across a network of monitoring sites for the Cumberland Plain. This will provide valuable information that will inform strategies for managing the incursion and spread of Pc and other non-native pathogens at sensitive sites. It will also provide novel information regarding the occurrence of native oomycetes, hypothesised to be important drivers of biodiversity maintenance, in these ecosystems.