Citrus canker is a bacterial disease that originates in south-east Asia and affects citrus fruit - HSC - SSCE Biology - Question 6 - 2020 - Paper 1

To effectively prevent the spread of citrus canker into Australia, it is crucial to keep citrus trees and fruit that are entering the country in quarantine stations until the incubation period for the disease has passed. This method ensures that any potentially infected plants or fruit are isolated from the rest of the agricultural ecosystem, thus reducing the risk of an outbreak. Monitoring and inspection are important but placing the items in quarantine provides a more direct and assured means of preventing disease spread by allowing for more definitive checks over time.