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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Research pathogenic and saprophytic wood decay fungi species
  2. Evaluate decay and identify fungi
  3. Prepare in-vitro media, cultures
  4. Conduct laboratory identification and assays

Range Statement


Performance Evidence

The candidate must be assessed on their ability to integrate and apply the performance requirements of this unit in a workplace setting. Performance must be demonstrated consistently over time and in a suitable range of contexts.

The candidate must provide evidence for and demonstrate:

researching the role of fungi in biodiversity, tree nutrition, forest health, environmental biochemistry and pathology

researching the role and contribution of wood decay fungi to forest health, the influence of environmental stresses and physiological tree responses

examining the taxonomy and evolutionary relationships of corticoid and polypore wood decay fungi

investigating the role of fungal species on various hosts

conducting analysis of lifecycle, biology, ecology and effects of pathogenic wood decay fungi species

conducting analysis of lifecycle, biology, ecology and effects of saprophytic wood decay fungi species

examining the relationships of fungal species with branch and tree failures

analysing biosecurity implications of known and threat fungal species

reviewing PLANTPLAN biosecurity plans and procedures

performing visual evaluation of the signs and symptoms of fungi and decay, including: visual symptoms such as dieback, reduced growth rate and chlorosis, presence of basidiocarps, decayed wounds, hollows and cavities

performing field identification of wood decay species of fungi to generic level

performing field identification of non-pathogenic fungi species to generic level

documenting location, size, and condition of wood decay fungi, presence of mycoparasites, and size, condition and extent of hollows and cavities

documenting details of environmental characteristics of fungal affected trees: site characteristics, site history, soil conditions, climate and microclimatic variables, proximity of adjacent trees and vegetation, movement of people and vehicles, and potential impacts to assets, property and landscape

determining methods of introduction, establishment, spread, and susceptibility of adjacent trees and vegetation

performing field sampling techniques of wood decay fungi and mycoparasites suitable for in-vitro culture and identification

decanting and preparing standard laboratory chemicals and materials

creating selective culturing media to grow and isolate field samples

preparing field samples for culturing on media

taking samples from field samples and apply to growth media

isolating clean cultures from primary field cultures, and repeating until clean sample is obtained

preparing cultured samples for further testing such as deoxyribonucleic (DNA) based assay techniques

documenting records and storing securely digital and physical evidence: field samples, slides, growth media, DNA and cultured samples, following chain of evidence protocols

preparing microscope slides of isolated cultures

examining and identify cultured fungal samples

performing laboratory identification of wood decay fungi to generic level

recording digital images of identified fungi

performing laboratory assay tests for growth rate, temperature range, pathogenicity, and mycoparasitism to evaluate fungal characteristics

documenting experimental assay test results

developing and maintaining a culture collection for identification of fungi and submission to relevant government databases and culture collections

documenting a diagnostic report on a suspected emergency plant pest (EPP) following PLANTPLAN guidelines.


Knowledge Evidence

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

the role of fungi in biodiversity, tree nutrition, forest health, environmental biochemistry and pathology

the role and contribution of wood decay fungi to forest health, the influence of environmental stresses and physiological tree responses

taxonomy and evolutionary relationships of corticoid and polypore wood decay fungi

the role of fungal species on various hosts

lifecycles, biology, ecology and effects of pathogenic wood decay fungi species

lifecycle, biology, ecology and effects of saprophytic wood decay fungi species

relationships of fungal species with branch and tree failures

biosecurity implications of known and threat fungal species

PLANTPLAN biosecurity plans and procedures

visual evaluation of the signs and symptoms of fungi and decay, including: visual symptoms such as dieback, reduced growth rate and chlorosis, presence of basidiocarps, decayed wounds, hollows and cavities

field identification of wood decay species of fungi to generic level

field identification of non-pathogenic fungi species to generic level

location, size, and condition of wood decay fungi, presence of mycoparasites, and size, condition and extent of hollows and cavities

environmental characteristics of fungal affected trees: site characteristics, site history, soil conditions, climate and microclimatic variables, proximity of adjacent trees and vegetation, movement of people and vehicles, and potential impacts to assets, property and landscape

methods of introduction, establishment, spread, and susceptibility of adjacent trees and vegetation

field sampling techniques of wood decay fungi and mycoparasites

in-vitro culture of wood decay fungi and mycoparasites

identification of wood decay fungi and mycoparasites

methods of decanting and preparing standard laboratory chemicals and materials

creation of selective culturing media to grow and isolate field samples

preparation of field samples for culturing on media

methods of sampling from field samples

methods of application of samples to growth media

isolation of clean cultures from primary field cultures

methods of obtaining clean samples

preparation of cultured samples

deoxyribonucleic (DNA) based assay techniques

documentation of records

secure storage of digital and physical evidence: field samples, slides, growth media, DNA and cultured samples

chain of evidence protocols

preparation of microscope slides of isolated cultures

identification of cultured fungal samples

laboratory identification of wood decay fungi to generic level

digital imaging of identified fungi

laboratory assay tests for growth rate, temperature range, pathogenicity, and mycoparasitism to evaluate fungal characteristics

documentation of experimental assay test results

development and maintenance of culture collections

methods of submission to relevant government databases and culture collections

documentation of diagnostic reports

emergency plant pest (EPP)

PLANTPLAN guidelines.