Myrtle Rust
Planting Fact Sheet
Page 1 of 4
What is Myrtle rust?
Myrtle rust is a serious fungal disease that affects
plants in the Myrtaceae family, including natives
such as bottle brush (Callistemon spp.), tea tree
(Melaleuca spp.) and eucalypts (Eucalyptus spp.).
Myrtle rust is distinctive in that it produces masses
of powdery bright yellow or orange-yellow spores
on infected plant parts.
As myrtle rust is a new disease to Australia, its full
host range is unknown. Myrtle rust cannot be
eradicated and will continue to spread as it
produces thousands of spores which are highly
mobile. Although we cannot eradicate the disease,
we can limit its spread, manage its impact and
carry out research to discover its full host range
and seek long-term solutions.
How does myrtle rust spread?
Myrtle rust can spread rapidly because it produces
thousands of spores that are easily spread by wind,
human activity and animals. The disease can
spread through the movement of:
• infected or contaminated plant material, nursery
stock, plant cuttings, flowers and germ plasm;
• animals such as bees, birds, bats and possums
that have been in contact with rust spores;
• contaminated plant waste, timber, wood
packaging and dunnage;
• contaminated equipment and tools used on or
around plants (e.g. chainsaws, secateurs); and
• contaminated clothing, shoes and other
personal effects.
Myrtle rust is likely to infect plants in wet and humid
conditions and rust pustules can mature to release
spores in as little as 10–12 days. Spores can
survive for up to three months in the environment.
What can I do if I suspect Myrtle rust?
Report any suspect detections to Biosecurity
Queensland by calling 13 25 23 or visiting
http
://www.daff.qld.gov.au/4790_20842.htm
Further Information
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
http://www.daff.qld.gov.au/4790_19788.htm
Figure 1: Early Symptoms of myrtle rust infection
(DEEDI 2011)
.
Figure 2: Severe Symptoms of myrtle rust infection
(DEEDI 2011)
.
Myrtle Rust
Planting Fact Sheet
Page 2 of 4
What can I do to stop the spread of Myrtle rust?
If you are planting new trees or undertaking
revegetation you can follow these planting
recommendations for species selection and
appropriate spacing's to minimise the spread of
myrtle rust.
Small Scale Revegetation
If you are undertaking a small scale revegetation
project, that is planting a small number of trees, it is
recommended that you do not plant species that
are highly susceptible or extremely susceptible
(Table 1). Species that are classified as relatively
tolerant and moderately susceptible are able to be
planted.
Myrtle rust spreads easily by a number of different
sources therefore, planting highly susceptible or
extremely susceptible species in a small scale
revegetation project places these plants at
increased risk of being affected by myrtle rust.
Large Scale Revegetation
If you are undertaking a large scale revegetation
project, that is planting a large number of trees, it is
recommended that you predominately plant
species that are relatively tolerant and moderately
susceptible (Table 1).
If you wish to plant highly susceptible or extremely
susceptible plant species it is recommend that you
adopt the following planting strategies to reduce the
potential of these species being affected by myrtle
rust:
• plant extremely susceptible and highly
susceptible species few and far between,
mainly plant relatively tolerant and moderately
susceptible species;
• buffer extremely susceptible and highly
susceptible species with relatively tolerant
species; and
• buffer extremely susceptible and highly
susceptible species from prevailing winds of the
season,
• increase the spacing between the plants to
reduce humidity. No specific distance is
recommended.
Table 1. Plant species and their susceptibility to myrtle rust
Relatively Tolerant
Scientific Name
Common Name
Acmena hemilampra (syn. Syzygium hemilamprum)
Blush satinash
Acmenaingens
Red apple
Asteromyrtus brassii
Brass's Asteromyrtus
Austromyrtus tenuifolia
Narrow leaf myrtle
Backhousia angustifolia
Curry myrtle or narrow-leaved myrtle
Backhousia oligantha (endangered)
No common name
Backhousia sciadophora
Shatterwood
Backhousia sp. 'Prince Regent'
No common name
Choricarpia subargentea (near threatened)
Giant ironwood
Corymbia henryi
Large leaved spotted gum
Corymbia torelliana
Cadagi
Corymbia citriodora subsp. variegata
Spotted gum
Eucalyptus sp.
Red gum
Eucalyptus cloeziana
Gympie messmate
Eucalyptus planchoniana
Bastard tallow wood
Eucalyptustereticornis
Blue gum, forest red gum
Gossia bidwillii (syn
. Austromyrtus bidwillii)
Scrub python tree
Gossia floribunda
Cape ironwood
Gossia myrsinocarpa
Malanada ironwood, small flowered lignum
Lenwebbia lasioclada
Velvet myrtle
Lenwebbia sp. 'Blackall Range' (endangered)
Blackall Range myrtle
Leptospermum liversidgei
Blackall Range myrtle
Leptospermum petersonii
Lemon-scented tea tree
Leptospermum semibaccatum
No common name
Myrtle Rust
Planting Fact Sheet
Page 3 of 4
Lindsayomyrtus racemoides
Daintree Penda
Lophostemon suaveolens
Swamp box, swamp mahogany
Melaleuca formosa (syn
. Callistemon formosus)
Kingaroy Bottlebrush, cliff bottlebrush
Melaleuca nesophila
Showy honey myrtle
Melaleuca pachyphylla
Wallum bottlebrush
Metrosideros collina
Fiji Christmas bush
Metrosideros collina x villosa
Fiji Christmas bush
Metrosideros kermadecensis
Kermadec pohutukawa
Metrosideros thomasii
New Zealand Christmas bush
Myrciaria cauliflora
No common name
Myrtus communis
Common myrtle
Pilidiostigma glabrum
Plum myrtle
Rhodamnia acuminata
Cooloola ironwood
Ristantia waterhousei (vulnerable)
No common name
Syzygium argyropedicum
Silver satinash
Syzygium armstrongii
White bush apple
Syzygium australe
Scrub cherry
Syzygium canicortex
Yellow satinash
Syzygium corynanthum
Sour cherry
Syzygium forte subsp. forte
Watergum, brown satinash
Syzygium forte subsp. potamophilum
Flaky barked satinash, white apple
Syzygium luehmannii
Small-leaved lillypilly, riberry
Syzygium moorei
Rose apple
Syzygium nervosum
No comon name
Syzygium paniculatum
Magenta Cherry
Syzygium rubrimolle
Laura apple
Syzygium tierneyanum
River Cherry, Bamaga satinash
Syzygium wilsonii
Powderpuff lilly pilly
Syzygium wilsonii x luehmanii
Cascade lilly pilly
Tristaniopsis laurina
Water gum, kanooka
Uromyrtus tenella
No common name
Waterhousea floribunda (syn.
Syzygium floribundum)
Gully satinash
Waterhousea mulgraveana
No common name
Moderately Susceptible
Scientific Name
Common Name
Acmenosperma claviflorum
Grey satinash
Backhousia myrtifolia
Grey myrtle, ironwood
Eucalyptus carnea
Broad-leaved white mahogany
Eucalyptus curtisii
Plunkett mallee
Eucalyptus grandis
Flooded gum, rose gum
Eucalyptus tindaliae
Tindale's stringybark
Eugenia zeyheri
No common name
Gossia fragrantissima (endangered)
Sweet myrtle
Gossia macilwraithensis (near threatened)
No common name
Gossia punctata
Dotted myrtle
Leptospermum luehmannii
Lemon-scented tea tree, olive tea tree
Melaleuca saligna
Willow bottlebrush, white bottlebrush
Melaleuca viminalis (syn. Callistemon viminalis)
Willow bottlebrush
Rhodamnia arenaria
Cape York malletwood
Rhodamnia argentea
Silver myrtle or malletwood
Rhodamnia glabrescens (near threatened)
Smooth malletwood
Rhodamnia pauciovulata (near threatened)
Small-leaved malletwood
Rhodamnia spongiosa (syn.
R. glauca)
Northern malletwood
Rhodomyrtus canescens
Crater ironwood
Rhodomyrtus pervagata
Rusty rhodomyrtus, rusty ironwood
Myrtle Rust
Planting Fact Sheet
Page 4 of 4
Rhodomyrtus sericea
Grey rhodomyrtus
Rhodomyrtus trineura subsp.
capensis
No common name
Sphaerantia discolor
Tully Penda
Syzygium angophoroides
Yarrabah satinash
Syzygium cumini
Java plum
Syzygium eucalyptoides subsp.
eucalyptoides
White apple
Syzygium xerampelinum
Mulgrave satinash
Waterhousea Unipunctata
Rolypoly satinash
Xanthostemon youngii
Crimson penda
Highly Susceptible
Scientific Name
Common Name
Anetholea anisata (syn.
Backhousia anisata, Syzygium
anisatum)
Aniseed myrtle
Austromyrtus dulcis
Midgen berry or midyim
Backhousia citriodora
Lemon-scented myrtle
Choricarpia leptopetala
Brown myrtle, rusty turpentine
Gossia acmenoides
Scrub ironwood
Gossia gonoclada (endangered)
Angle-stemmed myrtle
Gossia hillii
Scaly myrtle
Lenwebbia prominens (near threatened)
Southern velvet myrtle
Melaleuca fluviatilis
Weeping tea tree
Melalecua leucadendra
Broad-leaved paperbark
Melaleuca nodosa
Prickly-leaved paperbark
Melaleuca polandii
No common name
Melaleuca viridiflora
Broad-leaved paperbark
Rhodamnia costata
Malletwood
Rhodamnia dumicola
Rib-fruited malletwood
Rhodamnia sessiliflora
Iron malletwood
Rhodomyrtus psidioides
Native guava
Rhodomyrtus tomentosa
Downy rose myrtle, Ceylon hill gooseberry
Syzygium oleosum
Blue lillypilly
Tristania neriifolia
Water gum
Xanthostemon oppositifolius (vulnerable)
Southern penda
Extremely Susceptible
Scientific Name
Common Name
Agonis flexuosa
Willow myrtle
Chamelaucium uncinatum
Geraldton wax
Eugenia reinwardtiana
Beach cherry
Gossia inophloia (syn.
Austromyrtus inophloia) (near
threatened)
Thready barked myrtle
Melaleuca quinquenervia
Broad-leaved paperbark
Rhodamnia angustifolia (endangered)
Narrow-leaved malletwood
Rhodamnia maideniana
Smooth scrub turpentine
Rhodamnia rubescens
Scrub turpentine
Syzygium jambos
Rose apple
Images from: Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) 2011, Myrtle rust presentation package.