AHCARB805 — Perform mycology assays

Elements & performance criteria

Performance evidence

• conducted field identification of a minimum of ten wood decay fungi to generic level
• conducted field identification of a minimum of ten non-pathogenic fungi to generic level
• analysed the lifecycle, biology, ecology and effects of a minimum of ten saprophytic wood decay fungi species on trees
• analysed the lifecycle, biology, ecology and effects of a minimum of ten pathogenic wood decay fungi species on trees
• collected, cultured, analysed and identified a minimum of five wood decay fungi to generic level.
• researched the role of microorganisms in the health of trees and forests
• researched the role and contribution of wood decay fungi to forest and tree health, and responses
• examined the taxonomy and evolutionary relationships of corticoid and polypore wood decay fungi
• investigated the role of fungal species on various hosts
• analysed lifecycle, biology, ecology and effects of wood decay fungi species
• examined relationships of fungal species with tree defects and failures
• analysed biosecurity implications of pathogenic fungal species
• reviewed state and federal biosecurity plans and procedures
• observed and evaluated signs and symptoms of fungi causing decay in trees
• maintained a record of the following for each mycological specimen:
• location, size, and condition of wood decay fungi
• presence of mycoparasites
• size, condition and extent of hollows and cavities
• documented details of environmental characteristics of fungal affected trees
• determined methods of dissemination and infection of adjacent trees and vegetation
• sampled wood decay fungi and mycoparasites from trees for in-vitro culture and identification
• selected, checked and fitted personal protective equipment and contamination prevention clothing
• decanted and prepared standard laboratory chemicals and materials
• prepared selective mycological culture media to grow and isolate field samples
• prepared field samples of fungi for culturing on media
• excised fungal specimens and applied to media
• maintained cultures and repeated excise procedures to isolate clean specimens
• prepared and maintained cultured samples for further testing
• updated records and securely stored evidence according to chain of evidence protocols
• prepared microscope slides of isolated cultures
• examined and identified cultured fungal samples to generic level
• recorded digital images of identified fungi
• performed laboratory assay tests to evaluate fungal characteristics
• documented experimental assay test results
• developed and maintained a mycology culture collection and submitted to government databases and culture collections according to procedures
• prepared a diagnostic report on a suspected emergency plant pest according to state and federal biosecurity procedures.

Knowledge evidence

• microbiological organisms and their impact on the health of forests and trees, including:
• bacteria
• fungi
• protozoa
• algae
• viruses
• fungi in the forest environment, including impact on:
• biodiversity
• tree nutrition
• forest health
• environmental biochemistry
• pathology
• taxonomy and evolutionary relationships of corticoid and polypore wood decay fungi, including:
• lifecycles, biology and ecology
• important pathogenic and saprophytic tree wood decaying fungi
• tree infections of tree components by fungal species and tree failure
• visual symptoms of decay and tree decline, including:
• dieback
• reduced growth rate and chlorosis
• presence of basidiocarps
• decayed wounds
• hollows and cavities
• state and federal biosecurity plans and procedures, including:
• biosecurity implications of known and threat fungal species
• Australian Emergency Plant Pest Response Plan
• field identification of fungi and fungal infections of trees, including:
• pathogenic fungi
• non-pathogenic fungi
• recording and describing location, size and condition of wood decay fungi
• presence of mycoparasites
• size, condition and extent of hollows and cavities
• environmental characteristics and growing conditions of trees affected by fungi, including:
• site characteristics and site history
• soil conditions
• climate and microclimatic variables
• proximity of adjacent trees and vegetation
• movement of people and vehicles
• potential impact on assets, property and landscape
• tree infection methods and introduction, establishment, spread, and susceptibility of trees
• collecting and sampling of fungi in the field, including:
• field sampling techniques of wood decay fungi and mycoparasites
• storage of collected samples
• standard laboratory techniques and safety when preparing, measuring and decanting chemicals and materials
• culturing fungi for identification in the laboratory environment, including:
• species-specific media and growing environment for culturing fungi
• techniques to prepare and extract field samples for culturing
• methods of excising and inoculating media with specimens
• isolating clean cultures from primary cultures
• preparation and maintaining clean cultured samples
• laboratory assay tests for fungal species identification, including:
• deoxyribonucleic (DNA) based assay techniques
• growth rate
• temperature range
• pathogenicity
• mycoparasitism
• documentation of assay test results
• laboratory identification of wood decay fungi, including:
• procedures and techniques for the preparation of microscope slides of isolated cultures
• identification of cultured fungal samples
• use of guides, keys and reference materials for identifying fungi
• development and maintenance of culture collections
• the importance and procedures for chain of evidence protocols, including:
• secure storage of digital and physical evidence
• storing and recording field samples
• maintaining accurate records for slides, cultures and DNA samples
• digital imaging techniques and importance in evidence and record keeping
• maintaining fungi collections, including:
• methods of submission to relevant government databases and culture collections
• record keeping, reports and documentation requirements, including:
• state and federal biosecurity procedures
• emergency plant pest (EPP) and PLANTPLAN guidelines.

Foundation skills

• Reading: Interpret information from complex texts and research reports and select information relevant to microbial activity and impact on forest ecosystem and trees
• Numeracy: Use complex formulae to calculate chemical concentrations when formulating mycological growing media

Unit content sourced from training.gov.au — © Commonwealth of Australia, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Auditori is not affiliated with the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.

Questions about assessing AHCARB805