Community & Business
10 November, 2026
Fungal threat focus of free talk
THE impacts of an alien fungal pathogen in the Wet Tropics will be the subject of a free presentation at Malanda on Thursday evening.
The Tree Kangaroo and Mammal Group, in conjunction with Trees for the Atherton and Evelyn Tablelands, are hosting the presentation by Cadel Boyce, from the Cairns Botanical Gardens, about Myrtle Rust (Austropuccinia psidii).
The fungus is one of many introduced plants into Australia that have had negative impacts upon native plants.
There are now grave concerns about the impact of the pathogen on many myrtle family plants which can be severely affected, with consequences for habitat damage.
Cadel has been working with this problem for several years and in particular with plant species known to be affected by the fungus.
He will identify the different ways Myrtle Rust affects the ecology of tropical Queensland and will identify steps that community groups and individuals working on forest regeneration can do to combat and live better with Myrtle Rust.
The free talk provides an opportunity to learn more about the pest and how to manage it. The talk commences at 7.30pm in the Malanda Hotel on Thursday. All welcome.
