AHCPMG303A
Maintain biological cultures

This unit covers the process of maintaining biological control agents for weed control prior to release in an experimental or field situation and defines the standard required to: prepare and propagate bioagent media; obtain bioagent cultures; maintain and monitor cultures; harvest and store cultures.

Application

This unit relates to maintaining biological cultures under limited supervision from others with checking only related to overall progress.


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Prepare and propagate bioagent media

1.1. Bioagent media to suit the host and target species are identified, selected and accessed consistent with enterprise procedures or integrated weed management strategy where applicable.

1.2. Required media are prepared in line with established procedures and laboratory policy.

2. Obtain bioagent cultures

2.1. Cultures are procured from established sources and microclimate maintained in transport to the laboratory.

2.2. Cultures are transferred to growing environment in strict compliance with laboratory policy.

3. Maintain and monitor cultures

3.1. Cultures are regularly checked as an integral part of work routines.

3.2. Optimum environmental conditions are maintained to maximise culture growth and condition.

3.3. Observations are recorded and abnormalities are reported to the appropriate authority.

4. Harvest and store cultures

4.1. Routine monitoring of culture growth identifies the need for harvest and agent release.

4.2. Harvesting program is determined in line with program requirements.

4.3. Harvest operations are completed and cultures are transferred to storage in accordance with laboratory policy.

Required Skills

Required skills

identify Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) hazards and implement safe work practices

prepare and propagate bioagent media

obtain bioagent cultures

maintain and monitor cultures

harvest and store cultures

use literacy skills to read, interpret and follow organisational policies and procedures, follow sequenced written instructions, record accurately and legible information collected and select and apply procedures for a range of tasks

use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation, including questioning techniques, active listening, clarifying information and consulting with supervisors as required

use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine workplace measures

use interpersonal skills to work with and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge

the range of media available for culture maintenance

culturing and media preparation techniques

laboratory and glasshouse procedures

available biological control agents and their use

the broad range of pest species that are to be targeted

biosecurity and quarantine requirements.

Evidence Required

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy holistically all of the requirements of the performance criteria and required skills and knowledge and include achievement of the following:

prepare and propagate bioagent media

obtain bioagent cultures

maintain and monitor cultures

harvest and store cultures.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions. Selection and use of resources for some worksites may differ due to the regional or enterprise circumstances.


Range Statement

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole.

Biological control agents may include:

control agents for weed control, their maintenance and culture.


Sectors

Unit sector

Pest management


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

Not Applicable