The cause of the dieback was eventually identified as Xanthomonas translucens pv. Pistaciae which infected almost 40% of trees, killing up to 15% of them, from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s.
The research committee is made up of a blend of large growers, small growers and external experts. Current non-industry members are plant pathologist and biosecurity specialist Dr Prue McMichael former Executive Director at SARDI Dr Kathy Ophel Keller.
The research committee’s priorities are: