The deadly plant disease myrtle rust has reached the remote Chatham Islands
The deadly plant disease myrtle rust has reached the remote Chatham Islands
20 April 2022
This is the first time the invasive fungus has been found on the Chatham Islands - 800 kilometres from the mainland.
Bad infections can wipe out trees, including natives like pohutukawa and manuka.
Beyond Myrtle Rust programme researcher Peter de Lange says so far, it's only been found on Chilean guava, a highly invasive weed.
He says it would be a good thing the myrtle rust knocked back the chilean guava on the island.
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