Myrtle rust and how to get it identified, and what to do about it

[Myrtlerust]

How do we confirm we have myrtle rust, and what do we do about it? Suspect its on a potted 2yr old pohutakawa. Report to whom? How to destroy infected plant?

[DanielAustin]

@Myrtlerust

Report to whom?

I don’t have the answers to your questions, but to get relevant and accurate advice about whether it should be reported and to whom, you will need to say which country you live in.

[sgene]

Just in case it’s helpful, there is another topic here about Myrtle Rust in New Zealand, which mentions reporting it: https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/help-in-identifying-myrtle-rust/23824.

[cooperj]

https://www.myrtlerust.org.nz/

There is no requirement to report myrtle rust. However adding observations to iNat does allow us to track the spread of the disease and its host plant preferences.
The link contains information on managing the infection.

[murray_dawson]

And here is a link for the observations of Myrtle Rust in New Zealand: https://inaturalist.nz/observations?place_id=6803&subview=map&taxon_id=549208&verifiable=any

[dannali]

Side question: Is it helpful to post multiple myrtle rust observations in a small area? Since finding myrtle rust on one of my own trees I’ve been peering suspiciously at all the myrtle-type trees I walk past and have noticed it on several more (all pohutukawa) within a couple of blocks. Is it useful to add observations for these or is that overkill?

[cooperj]

If observations are associated with the ‘standard’ cultivated hosts (Lophomyrtus, Syzigium) and they are within the current known range of records (within New Zealand, North Island), then personally I don’t think the records add much. But I’m sure the researchers may have other reasons for wanting such data. On the other hand Metrosideros associated records probably are useful. It seems to me, from seeing a lot of iNat observations, that there has been a substantial recent increase in those observations, and that must be telling us something. The rust is changing, or conditions are changing. But I’m not involved in the research.