RA4 REPORT: Myrtle Rust Climatic Risk

Weather associated with myrtle rust on the North Island east coast

December 2020

Beresford R, Sutherland R. 2020. Weather associated with myrtle rust on the North Island east coast. 6 p.

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to use a modelling approach to examine winter temperatures in New Zealand, particularly on the east coast of the North Island, and to identify areas where temperatures are favourable for infection during winter and areas where the pathogen remains in the latent phase. Latent overwintering is considered to occur when the latent period takes at least one month (30 days) to complete, i.e., when one or fewer latent periods occur per month. If the latent period is less than one month (more than one latent period occurring per month), it is considered that the infection cycle continues through winter.