BiosecurityBiosecurity reduces invasions of plant pathogens over a national border

A major new study appearing in PLOS Biology examines more than a century of fungal pathogens, finding well-aimed biosecurity measures cut the spread of unwanted fungi into a nation, even in the face of increased globalized trade.

“Although trade is closely tied to the number of new invasions we have from fungal pathogens, if we have targeted biosecurity we can start to break down this link,” said lead author Benjamin Sikes, assistant professor of ecology & evolutionary biology at the University of Kansas and assistant scientist at the Kansas Biological Survey. “Because globalization and imports to and from other countries are just going to keep increasing, most data have shown with that come lots of new invasive species around the world. The question is, can you slow that? This work shows that link can be slowed with implementation of targeted biosecurity measures.”

KU says that Sikes, a microbial ecologist whose research focuses on soil fungi, analyzed a New Zealand database of plant pathogens and diseases going back to the nineteenth century as part of a collaborative project among KU, New Zealand’s Bio-Protection Research Centre and Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research.

“There’s a huge number of ways people can bring plant pathogens into New Zealand or a country like the United States,” he said. “Many are brought in with agricultural imports. People bring in seeds or plant materials — even soils or lumber can have pathogens that were on those plants to begin with or are in those materials once they bring them through. If they’re not screened properly, these pathogens can establish and start to spread to local crops and plant species.”

The term “biosecurity” is a “really big umbrella” that has evolved over the years reviewed in the new study, according to Sikes. The research focused primarily on the consequences of border surveillance, phytosanitary inspections and quarantine for incoming plant diseases.