The National Plant Biosecurity Diagnostic Network (NPBDN), which is coordinated by Plant Health Australia, held the second of four virtual Annual Diagnostics Workshops (vADW) on 27 February 2025. This session focused on plant mycology, with an emphasis on forest pathology and fungal nomenclature.

The workshop featured national and international expert speakers, sharing the latest diagnostics research and participating in active discussions with members. Speakers included D. Joan Webber (Forest Research, UK) who discussed diagnostics for Phytophthora ramorum, P. kernovii, and P. pluvialis, and Dr Tom May (Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria) who shared resources for fungal nomenclature and taxonomy. Two National Diagnostic Protocol reviews were presented by Darryl Herron (Scion Research, New Zealand) and Dr Merje Toome, (New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries). Dr Dominie Wright (Western Australia’s Department of Primary Industries) shared updates on the National Plant Health Proficiency Testing Program, and student speaker Abigail Graetz (Australian National University) presented her work on fungal diagnostics.

NPBDN members can access the recordings by logging into the member portal.

The final two workshops will take place on 2 April (bacteriology) and 30 April (invertebrate plant pests) continuing the series’ focus on advancing diagnostic techniques.

Not a member? Join NPBDN today!

The vADW webinars are exclusive to NPBDN members. Members get free access to training, workshops, and proficiency testing, contribute to the development of NDPs, and network with plant diagnosticians across Australia. They also receive funding to attend NPBDN workshops and access diagnostic resources through the NPBDN portal. Membership is open to active diagnostic professionals in government, research, industry, and other sectors.

Join NPBDN today and connect with a network vital to Australia’s plant health.