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Organic Mangoes A Production Guide, Steven Mccoy

Bulletins 4000 -

Mangoes have been identified as a prospective crop for conversion to organic production, particularly at Kununurra in the Ord River Irrigation Area.

Mangoes can also perform well under organic systems in other regions of WA, however variations in pest and disease pressures may require additional attention to these problems.

Organic Apples A Production Guide, Steven Mccoy

Bulletins 4000 -

The belief among some conventional apple growers that it is not possible to reliably produce profitable yields of good quality apples under an organic system in Western Australia is being reconsidered. There are now very good examples of successful commercial organic apple orchards in many parts of the world, including WA. The organic production systems developed by these dedicated growers are showing that yields and quality are comparable to conventional systems.

Sampling And Testing For Plant Pathogens, Aileen Reid

Bulletins 4000 -

There are many methods used in the laboratory to determine whether Phytophthora or other fungi are present in growing media, water supply and diseased plants. These include:

• filtering water for spores

• baiting for fungi in growing media and water samples

• examining diseased plant tissue microscopically

• direct culturing from roots and other plant parts to isolate the fungal pathogen in pure culture.

This bulletin outlines some of the procedures involved. Growers may be able to do some basic baiting of soil or water samples themselves to alert them of a problem but the procedures involved in isolating …

Phytophthora Diseases Of Cutflower Crops, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

Bulletins 4000 -

Phytophthora root rot is the most common soil borne disease causing plant death in native cut flower production. It is also a pathogen of exotic cutflower crops such as rose, lily, carnation, proteas and gerbera. The fungus, Phytophthora cinnamomi, the cause of jarrah dieback is the pathogen that first comes to mind when Phytophthora is mentioned. This has one of the widest host ranges of all Phytophthora species, particularly amongst native Australia species. P.nicotianae also has a wide host range, infecting a wide range of exotic, as well as Australian native flower crops. There are also a number of …

Diseases Of Waxflower And Their Control, Aileen Reid

Bulletins 4000 -

Waxflower is susceptible to a range of diseases. This outlines the main problems which occur in commercial plantations and presents measures to control them. Since chemicals for control of plant diseases are constantly changing, growers are advised to seek the latest available information.

Managing Blackleg : A Grower's Guide To Minimising Risk From Blackleg Disease Of Canola In Western Australia, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

Bulletins 4000 -

Blackleg is spread primarily by wind, with the heaviest spore fall out normally occurring within 500 metres of any canola residue. Each year canola residue continues to produce blackleg spores at a diminishing rate until the stubble has completely broken down (see Diagram 2). In WA this breakdown could take up to 4 years, and so the recommendations are for long rotations.

The blackleg fungus can attack all the aerial parts of the plant. While leaf infection is the most obvious symptom, high levels of leaf infections do not necessarily indicate that major losses will occur from blackleg. It is …

Organic Wheat : A Production Guide, Steven Mccoy

Bulletins 4000 -

Many people believe that organic agriculture systems can only work in high rainfall regions. However, some of Australia’s most successful organic farmers are the experienced organic wheatbelt growers who produce cereal, pulse and oilseed crops in different regions and soil types across the country.

Wheat is the major organic cereal crop grown in Australia - predominantly noodle and breadmaking wheats for export markets.

Farming systems developed by modern organic wheat growers can differ significantly in concept, strategies and techniques from those used by conventional growers. Successful conversion to organic requires careful planning and integration of the whole farming system over …

Managing Lupin Anthracnose, Greg Shea, W A. Cowling, B J. Burchell, D Luckett, H Yang, Mark W. Sweetingham, Geoff J. Thomas

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Anthracnose in lupins was first reported in commercial crops in Western Australia in September 1996. By October 1996, several thousand lupin breeding lines and wild types of 11 lupin species were sown in New Zealand for resistance screening. In 1997, resistance to anthracnose was confirmed in several breeding fines and commercial cultivars of narrow-leafed lupins (I. angustifolius), landraces of albus lupins (I. albus) and wild types of several other lupin species. Important information on critical seed infection levels and fungicide seed treatment has also been determined.

Carrot Export Growth Depends On Keeping Cavity Spot Under Control, Allan Mckay, Elaine Davison

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Cavity spot is the most serious disease affecting carrot production in Ly Western Australia. With carrots now being the State's most important horticultural export, Agriculture Western Australia has undertaken extensive research to ensure the export market continues to grow.