Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to safely work within a laboratory environment, collect and identify wood decay fungi specimens from the field, prepare in-vitro cultures, and carry out primary experiments on fungi cultures. Work is performed using laboratory hygiene and safety procedures for sampling, sterilisation and cleaning of laboratory equipment and instruments.
The unit applies to individuals with highly specialised advanced theoretical and technical knowledge for professional work and research in arboriculture. They exercise advanced cognitive, technical and communication skills and demonstrate complete autonomy, judgement and adaptability in research and analysis for complex problems.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements are to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements | Performance Criteria |
1. Research pathogenic and saprophytic wood decay fungi species | 1.1 Investigate role of microbiological organisms on tree and forest health 1.2 Investigate the role and contribution of wood decay fungi to forest and tree health, and responses 1.3 Examine the taxonomy and evolutionary relationships of corticoid and polypore wood decay fungi 1.4 Investigate the role of fungal species on specific host trees 1.5 Analyse lifecycle, biology, ecology and effects of wood decay fungal species 1.6 Examine relationship between fungal species and tree defects and failures 1.7 Analyse biosecurity implications of pathogenic fungal species 1.8 Review state and federal biosecurity plans and procedures |
2. Evaluate decay and identify fungi in trees | 2.1 Observe and evaluate signs and symptoms of fungi causing decay in trees 2.2 Identify wood decaying fungi to generic level in field 2.3 Identify non-pathogenic fungi to generic level in field 2.4 Record location, size, and condition of wood decay fungi and mycoparasites of hollows and cavities in trees 2.5 Document details of environmental characteristics of fungal affected trees 2.6 Determine methods of dissemination and infection of fungi to other trees and vegetation 2.7 Sample wood decay fungi and mycoparasites from trees for in-vitro culture and identification |
3. Prepare in-vitro media, cultures | 3.1 Select, check and fit personal protective equipment and contamination prevention clothing according to workplace procedures 3.2 Decant and prepare standard laboratory chemicals and materials 3.3 Prepare selective media to isolate and culture mycology specimens 3.4 Prepare field samples ready for culturing on media 3.5 Excise specimens and apply to media 3.6 Maintain cultures and repeat excise procedures to isolate clean specimens 3.7 Prepare and maintain cultured samples for further testing 3.8 Update records and store securely according to chain of evidence protocols |
4. Conduct laboratory identification and assays | 4.1 Prepare microscope slides of isolated cultures 4.2 Examine and identify cultured fungal samples 4.3 Perform laboratory identification of wood decay fungi to generic level 4.4 Record digital images of identified fungi 4.5 Perform laboratory assay tests to evaluate fungal characteristics 4.6 Document experimental assay test results 4.7 Develop and maintain mycology culture collection and submit to government database and culture collections according to procedures 4.8 Prepare a diagnostic report on suspected emergency plant pest according to state and federal biosecurity procedures |
Evidence of Performance
An individual demonstrating competency must satisfy all of the elements and performance criteria in this unit.
There must be evidence that the individual has performed the following:
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.
There must also be evidence that the individual has:
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.
Evidence of Knowledge
An individual must be able to demonstrate the knowledge required to perform the tasks outlined in the elements and performance criteria of this unit. This includes knowledge of:
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.
Assessment Conditions
Assessment of the skills in this unit of competency must take place under the following conditions:
physical conditions:
trees with fungal infections stipulated in the performance evidence
laboratory suitable for performing the tests stipulated in the performance evidence
resources, equipment and materials:
computer with word processing software
digital imaging device
diagnostic tools, including sounding hammer, trowel, probe, cordless drill
soil testing equipment
digital dissection microscope 10x – 100x
compound microscope
laboratory equipment to perform aseptic techniques in a sterile environment
personal protective equipment and contamination prevention clothing
culture growing environment
specifications:
access to standard procedures and quality standards for growing culture, performing tests and conducting assessments
access to reference materials for fungi identification.
Assessors of this unit must satisfy the requirements for assessors in applicable vocational education and training legislation, frameworks and/or standards. In particular, assessors must have:
arboriculture vocational competencies at least to the level being assessed
current arboriculture industry skills directly relevant to the unit of competency being assessed.
Foundation Skills
Skill | Description |
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 |
Sectors
Arboriculture (ARB)