Access to healthy planting material is essential for the Australian citrus industry, with supply of disease-free, true-to-type propagation material of key importance. While diseases such as Huanglongbing and citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC) remain exotic to Australia, there are a number of graft-transmissible viruses and viroids in Australia that can cause stunting, yield loss and even death in some scion and rootstock combinations.

With this in mind, this investment will continue funding for the long-term National Citrus Repository (NCR) program for publicly owned citrus varieties. It will support the maintenance and disease testing of foundation trees in the NCR, as well as the disease testing of new Australian citrus selections entering the repository system.

The NCR is an important part of an integrated biosecurity system designed to protect the health and economic viability of the Australian citrus industry. From foundation tree budwood, Auscitrus creates daughter trees and multiplies large numbers of buds for industry. New varieties can enter the program if no known diseases are detected after pathogen testing and elimination.