The Western Australia Department of Agriculture is leading the country in developing diagnostic techniques for Karnal bunt in wheat, as part of an effort to improve Australia’s preparedness against the disease.

Department Plant Pathologist Dominie Wright said the push to learn how to diagnose the disease comes ahead of plans to launch a national diagnostic protocol in October. The launch will also include diagnostic training for plant and quarantine pathologists from each State.

"The ability to respond quickly to an incursion of Karnal bunt is dependent on the pathologist being able to identify the exotic pathogen Tilletia indica, which causes the disease. Tilletia indica is very similar to other bunt fungi likely to be present in Australia or intercepted in quarantine, which makes it difficult to identify," she said.

Ms Wright recently travelled to the United States and the United Kingdom to study the techniques being used to identify the pathogen, and to discuss an Australian protocol for Karnal bunt.

The visit was funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation and is part of a Plant Health Australia project to develop a diagnostic capacity protocol for Tilletia indica. NSW Agriculture has also been a partner in the project, and diagnostic training for other plant pathologists will be conducted by Dr Gordon Murray from that department and Ms Wright.

"The Plant Health Australia project has been a precursor to further contingency planning on Karnal bunt as part of the National Grains Biosecurity Plan. Training in diagnosis and the development of a national protocol will ensure Australia is prepared for any future incursions of the disease," Ms Wright said.

The October launch of the protocol and associated training will take place at a Plant Health Australia workshop. The protocol will include a manual with photographs and prepared slides to assist in the identification of Tilletia indica.,