September 2025 AMS virtual seminar: Eric Kumi Asare, on fungal pathogens of peppermint!

We invite you to attend our upcoming AMS virtual seminar. This month, we're excited to feature Eric Kumi Asare, a PhD student at the Edith Cowan University. Eric was also one of the awardees of the AMS Research Grants in 2024!

Investigating myrtle rust and other fungal diseases on Agonis flexuosa

Eric Kumi Asare

Edith Cowan University

West Australia

Thursday, 25 September 2025

12pm (AEST) / 2pm (NZST) 

Register here

Summary

Endemic to south-west of Western Australia (WA), Agonis flexuosa (commonly called peppermint) is a keystone tree species that provides habitat, food, and protection for fauna, particularly the vulnerable Western Ringtail Possum (Pseudocheirus occidentalis). However, this tree species is threatened by diseases caused by pathogens including Phytophthora cinnamomi and Neofusicoccum australe. Commonly, these pathogens cause dieback resulting in tree death. The recent detection of Austropuccinia psidii (myrtle rust) in the Eastern Kimberley adds to the fungal pathogens potentially threatening A. flexuosa in WA. It is uncertain how A. flexuosa will respond to a myrtle rust incursion, given that A. flexuosa has high rust susceptibility but is genetically diverse across its native range. This study aimed to screen A. flexuosa seedlots from different provenances across its native range for resistance to myrtle rust to provide a basis for resistance breeding and species conservation. Phenology studies were undertaken to identify species vulnerability periods for A. psidii. Further, other fungal pathogens causing diseases on A. flexuosa were investigated with the aim of building a reference library of disease symptoms and existing pathogenic fungi. This study has increased

our knowledge of fungal pathogens on A. flexuosa and the information is useful in facilitating disease differentiation from myrtle rust. Importantly, it has also provided new insights into the potential impact should myrtle rust arrive in south-west WA.

Meet our speaker - Eric Kumi Asare!

Eric Kumi Asare has gained experience during his research career in plant pathology as a mycologist. He has special interest in understanding how fungal pathogens spread and develop into epidemics, and management using cultural, biological and chemical control methods. However, he grows fungi for food and money. Simply, he is a mushroom farmer!

Eric completed his master’s degree in 2015 at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi – Ghana. As part of this thesis, he successfully suppressed mycelial growth and black pod lesion development due to Phytophthora palmivora using Pseudomonas putida. He joined the School of Science at Edith Cowan University in September 2022 to commence his PhD studies on myrtle rust under the supervision of experienced scientists: Dr. Anna Hopkins (ECU), Dr. Kristina Lemson (ECU), Dr. Mary Hanson (ECU) and Dr. Kylie Ireland (DBCA). His research focuses on understanding the potential impact of myrtle rust on Western Australian Myrtaceae following detections in the Eastern Kimberley in June 2022. Eric was the awardee of one of the AMS Research Grants in 2024.