Three species of Melaleuca from Western Australia are highly susceptible to Austropuccinia psidii in controlled inoculations

Abstract

Austropuccinia psidii, the fungus causing myrtle rust, was detected in Western Australia for the first time in June 2022. Few Western Australian plant species have been screened for response to the pathogen. Melaleuca thyoides, Melaleuca marginata and Melaleuca leucadendra grown from seeds sourced from Western Australian populations were all highly susceptible to an isolate of the pathogen from eastern Australia.