Quick work by an Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) detector dog team last month stopped an airline passenger bringing diseased plum and apricot trees from Turkey into Australia.

Federal Agriculture Minister Warren Truss said scientific tests have confirmed the find saved Australia's $270 million stone fruit industry from the introduction of Sharka disease.

"Sharka disease is the single greatest threat to Australia's stone fruit industry, which produces more than 70,000 tonnes of fresh fruit a year and supports thousands of families growing fruit for domestic and export markets," Mr Truss said.

"It's no exaggeration to say that the industry owes a big vote of thanks to AQIS detector dog handler Sean Holman and his beagle Trevor, who recently sniffed out the apricot and plum trees carried by a passenger arriving at Melbourne International Airport from Turkey."

The trees were examined by AQIS plant pathologists at the high security Knoxfield plant quarantine facility, and subsequent tests by Victorian plant disease specialists confirmed the plants were infected with devastating Sharka disease. The passenger, who could not read English, was given a strong warning.

"Sharka disease affects apricots, nectarines, peaches, plums and cherries throughout Europe and has recently been found in the United States and Canada. Trees drop fruit prematurely, bruising the flesh. Consumers won't buy the unsightly fruit - spelling disaster for growers and processors," Mr Truss said.

Sharka has caused serious crop losses in Europe, where growers have been forced to remove millions of affected trees. The USA and Canada are currently attempting to eradicate outbreaks, with millions of trees destroyed at an estimated cost of US$35 million.

"Australia's stringent quarantine regulations are there for a reason: they are vital to protecting our $29 billion per year agriculture exports, our domestic production and our unique environment," Mr Truss said.

"I congratulate Trevor and Sean and the rest of AQIS for the great work they are doing to keep Australia free from exotic pests and diseases. I'm sure our stone fruit growers join me in reminding travellers that smuggling plant or animal material is not just breaking the rules -it is a direct threat to our way of life."