Nuriootpa research centre, Barossa Valley 2020

Sentinel 1 has completed its second trial at SARDI’s Nuriootpa research centre in the Barossa. Sentinel 1 unit features one […]

Sentinel 1 has completed its second trial at SARDI’s Nuriootpa research centre in the Barossa.

Sentinel 1 unit features one six-metre insect trap, a two-metre insect suction trap and two spore suction traps, as well as an onboard weather station. This site also collected data for targets captured by lure-based traps. Viticulture and grains priority pests and pathogens were targeted for identification at this site.

A selection of insect surveillance samples from the trial site are being screened using Agriculture Victoria’s High Throughput Sequencing (HTS) for insect diagnostics method at AgriBio in Melbourne.

During this period, priority insect target counts will be delayed, however, will be accompanied by rich information relating to the insect biodiversity within the trap samples. We will be able to provide general insights into the presence of pollinators, pests and predators of pests. Insect counts will be updated as the data becomes available.

Data for pest and pathogens trapped by the suction traps are shared via the data dashboard (link below). Lure-based trap data is shared via this page.

Insect pests targeted

Green peach aphid (Myzus persicae)

Green mirid (Creontiades dilutus)

Western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis)

Melon cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii)

Russian wheat aphid (Diuraphis noxia)

Oat aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi)

Corn aphid (Rhopalosiphum maidis)

Rose-grain aphid (Metopolophium dirhodum)

Green vegetable bug (Nezara viridula)

Onion thrips (Thrips tabaci)

Light brown apple moth (Epiphyas postvittana)

Fungal pathogens targeted

Tan spot of wheat (Pyrenophora tritici-repentis)

Aschochyta blight of peas (Didymella pinodes/Phoma pinodella)

Net form of net blotch of barley (Pyrenophora teres f. teres)

Spot type net blotch of barley (Pyrenophora teres f. maculata)

Blackleg of canola (Leptosphaeria maculans)

Sclerotinia white rot (Sclerotinia minor &/ S. sclerotiorum)

Septoria tritici blotch (STB) (Zymoseptoria tritici)

Chocolate spot of fava bean (Botrytis fabae)

Botrytis grey mould (Botryitis cinerea)

Powdery mildew of grapevines (Erysiphe necator)

iMapPESTS data dashboard by Data Effects

Data for pathogens trapped by the suction traps are shared via the data dashboard (link below).

Lure-trap target counts are updated weekly and shared on this page.

Weather data is usually captured and presented in real-time (temperature, relative humidity & rainfall) on our data dashboard (link below), however, our weather station is currently out of order and we are working on getting it back online soon.

Insect data are presented as the total number of each target insect counted in collected samples from our 2m or 6m traps as data becomes available. There will be some delays to this data for the remainder of this trial as we undergo additional trials for high throughput screening of insect samples.

Spore data is presented as kilo copies of target DNA per sample from spore samplers A & B as data becomes available.

Click here to view data dashboard

*Dashboard best viewed on a desktop. Best viewed in landscape on a mobile phone/tablet. NB: Weather data currently N/A

Barossa insect surveillance samples trialled using cutting-edge diagnostic technique

Samples from insect suction traps onboard Sentinel 1 at the Nuriootpa research centre in the Barossa are being screened using a new method of insect ID. This work is conducted by Agriculture Victoria Research (AVR) for the iMapPESTS program, which aims to monitor insect biodiversity and presence/absence of pests using smart traps in an agricultural environment. The samples of insects collected at the Nuriootpa site are being analysed using High-throughput Sequencing (HTS) technologies.

The HTS approach takes the sample of insects and sucks out the various genetic codes. This results in a ‘DNA soup’ that can be scanned using a database of known DNA barcodes to detect and flag the particular species present. This technique has the potential to detect more targets using a single test and discover biosecurity threats early, allowing for a more effective response to an incursion.

SARDI and AVR have been collaborating to investigate the optimal sampling methods for required for the diverse range of agricultural settings across our landscape. As molecular techniques edge toward faster ID of targets it is important that the research results can be validated by morphological analysis by specialist entomologists. However, this method is time consuming and labour-intensive.

AVR recently published a study on the use of propylene glycol as an insect DNA preservative paired with non-destructive DNA extraction techniques (Martoni et al. 2021; Agriculture, https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11010077).

The application of this new technology will enable a better understanding of the diversity of airborne insects for a given trial region. In addition to revealing the population dynamics for a handful of priority targets that will continue to be identified and quantified using traditional morphological ID, the sequencing data can provide an overview of the insect biodiversity of agricultural settings, including the presence of beneficials such as pollinators and/or predators of pests.

Light brown apple moth (LBAM) surveillance at Nuriootpa Research Centre Barossa Valley

One lure-based trap is currently targeting Lightbrown apple moth in close proximity to the sentinel.

Lure trap observations10/2/2021

Lure trap observations 9/1/2021

Pest moth lure-based trap surveillance of light brown apple moth (LBAM – Epiphyas postvittana) at Nuriootpa Research Centre Barossa Valley

One lure-based trap is currently targeting Lightbrown apple moth in close proximity to the sentinel.

Lure trap observations 15/11/2020

Pest moth lure-based trap surveillance of Lightbrown apple moth at Nuriootpa Research Centre Barossa Valley

One lure-based trap is currently targeting Lightbrown apple moth in close proximity to the sentinel.

Most recent lure trap observations 4/11/2020