Berries

Raspberries and Blackberries Australia represent the biosecurity interests of rubus growers (including raspberries blackberries) and the industry.  They are members of Plant Health Australia and signatories to the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed and are involved in:

  • biosecurity planning and implementation at the national and farm levels
  • liaising with federal and state governments on trade issues
  • funding and supporting biosecurity initiatives
  • participating in national committees and response efforts in an emergency.

Industry overview

Raspberry, blackberry and hybrid brambles (including silvanberries, boysenberries, loganberries, youngberries and marionberries) are collectively referred to as rubus or cane berries.

Raspberries are the most popular accounting for 85 per cent of fresh production, followed by blackberries at 14 per cent and other hybrid brambles consisting of one per cent fresh production.

While most raspberries, blackberries and brambleberries produced are consumed locally, with approximately one per cent of production exported to Singapore, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia and Pacific Island countries.

There is approximately 700 hectares of land under cultivation with rubus varieties: production is largely under protected cropping (white plastic tunnels) to protect from wind and rain. New plantings continue in response to increasing demand from consumers.

Traditionally rubus is a cool temperate crop with peak production in early summer to autumn. However, year-round supply is possible from subtropical New South Wales and south-east Queensland production sites where harvest occurs late autumn to spring. Hydroponic systems, new low-chill rubus varieties and production methods to simulate winter extend the harvest season and productivity.

Biosecurity planning provides a mechanism for the rubus industry, government and other relevant stakeholders to assess current biosecurity practices and future biosecurity needs. Planning identifies procedures that can be put in place to reduce the chance of pests reaching our borders or minimise the impact if a pest incursion occurs.

The Biosecurity Plan for the Berry Sector outlines key threats to the industry, risk mitigation plans, identification and categorisation of exotic pests and contingency plans. For a copy, please contact PHA on 02 6215 7700 or email biosecurity@phau.com.au

Fact sheets and web links about the pollination of this crop are listed below. Please be aware that some of the information was developed overseas, and environmental and seasonal variations may occur.

Rubus pollination fact sheet, The Pollination Program (Agrifutures Australia and Hort Innovation)

Raspberry pollination, United States Department of Agriculture

Poor pollination in raspberries, University of California

Exotic pests (not in Australia)

The following is a list of high priority exotic pests of berries. These pests were identified during the development of the Biosecurity Plan for the Berry Sector in consultation with industry, government and scientists. They have been assessed as high priority pests based on their potential to enter, establish, and spread in Australia (eg environmental factors, host range, vectors) and the cost to industry of control measures.

PHA has a range of fact sheets, contingency plans and diagnostic protocols relevant to these pests. Pest risk review documents are also available for some pests. Please contact PHA on 02 6215 7700 or email biosecurity@phau.com.au for more information.

Endorsed National Diagnostic Protocols are available from the National Plant Biosecurity Diagnostic Network webpage.

Common name Scientific name EPPRD Category Fact sheet Contingency plan Diagnostic protocol
Brown-marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys FS FS FS CP
Brown rot Monilinia fructigena 3 FS FS FS DP
Consperse stink bug Euschistus conspersus
Glassy-winged sharpshooter Homalodisca vitripennis FS FS FS FS FS FS FS CP CP DP
Spongy moths Lymantria dispar and Lymantria mathura FS FS FS CP DP
Japanese beetle Popillia japonica FS
Orange rust (long-cycled) Arthuriomyces peckianus FS
Rose thrips Thrips fuscipennis
Spotted wing drosophila Drosophila suzukii FS FS FS FS
Strawberry spider mite Tetranychus turkestani FS
Tarnished plant bug Lygus lineolaris FS FS FS CP
Xylella fastidiosa Xylella fastidiosa including X. fastidiosa subsp. multiplex and pauca 2 FS FS FS FS FS FS CP CPDP

Other pests

The following is a list of documents for other exotic and endemic pests of berries. Please note that this is not a complete list of berry pests: rather it includes pests for which documents exist in the Pest Information Document Database.

Some of the documents presented here are not  tailored to the berry industry and are included for information only.

Common name Scientific name EPPRD Category Fact sheet Contingency plan Diagnostic protocol
Fire blight Erwinia amylovora 2 FS CP
Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata FS DP
Oblique-banded leaf roller Choristoneura rosaceana FS
Omnivorous leaf roller Platynota stultana FS
Orange rust (short-cycled) Gymnoconia nitens FS
Orange tortrix Argyrotaenia citrana syn A. franciscana FS
Pacific spider mite Tetranychus pacificus FS
Pierces disease Xylella fastidiosa 2 FS FS FS FS FS CP
Queensland fruit fly Bactrocera tryoni FS DP
Raspberry crown borers Pennisetia hylaeiformis and Pennisetia marginata FS
Raspberry ringspot virus Raspberry ringspot virus (Nepovirus) FS
Strawberry latent ringspot virus Strawberry latent ringspot virus (Sadwavirus) FS
Sudden oak death Phytophthora ramorum 1 FS FS FS CP
Texas root rot Phymatotrichopsis omnivora (syn Phymatotrichum omnivorum) 2 FS FS
Tomato black ring virus Tomato black ring virus (Nepovirus) FS
Tomato ringspot virus Tomato ringspot virus (Nepovirus) FS
Verticillium wilt Verticillium dahliae (exotic defoliating strains) 3 FS