Life Sciences Commons^™

Coming To Grips With Eradu-Patch Of Lupins, Bill Macleod, Mark Sweetingham

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

Investigations by Bill MacLoud and Mark Sweetingham have confirmed that Eradu-patch of lupins is caused by apreviously undescribed fungal pathogen,\.

They have developed strategies to minimise the spread of patches but choices are limited for control in lupin crops

Cucumber Mosiac Virus In Lupins, Annette Bwye, Roger Jones, Wayne Proudlove

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

Cucumber mosaic virus is a threat to lupin crops from Geraldton to Esperance, particularly to those growing in areas receiving more than 400 mm average annual rainfall. The disease markedly decreases grain yield in narrow-leafed and yellow lupins but doesnot infect albus or sandplain lupins. Worldwide , after bean yellow mosaic virus, cucumber mosaic virus is the second most important virus affecting lupins. Annette Bwye, Roger Jones and Wayne Proudlove outline the symptoms, spread and management of this serious disease.

Eradication Of Apple Scab, John Cripps, Ralph Doepel

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

The detection of apple scab in two orchards at Pemberton and New/ands in December 1989 ended Western Australia's 41-year, scab-free span for apple growers .

Without eradication orchardists would have had to apply up to 20 fungicidal sprays a year, at an annual cost of $1-2 million, to be able to market a high proportion of scab-free fruit. The industry chose eradication as the cheaper alternative, but the location of infected orchards at Pemberton in particular, with its high rainfall, suggested that it would be difficult .

Scab, or black spot, is the most serious fungal disease of apples in …

Seed-Bourne Virus Diseases In Annual Pasture Legumes, R A C Jones

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

No abstract provided.

Yellow Spot Of Wheat, R Loughman, J. M. Wilson, R. E. Wilson

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

Yellow spot is a serious leaf disease of wheat in Western Australia. It also occurs in Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia. Yellow spot can appear as a severe leaf blight but generally the disease does not have the rapid epidemic development of wheat rust diseases. It builds up more slowly and is not as obvious in the crop, while caising appreciable yield loss.

Keeping Ahead Of Powdery Mildew In Barley, T N. Khan, K. Young, P. A. Portmann

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

Powdery mildew is one of the world's most significant barley diseases. In Australia, and more particularly Western Australia, its importance has been under-rated, and only recently has interest in this disease emerged.

Powdery mildew was widespread throughout Western Australia's southern cereal growing areas in 1983. Only a prolonged dry period in August and early September of that year prevented possible large-scale crop losses. Similar outbreaks occurred in 1984.

While some barley varieties are resistant to infection, the use of fungicides, particularly seed dressings, can minimise further infection.

Progress In Clover Scorch Research, A Bokor, D. L. Chatel, D. A. Nicholas

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

Considerable progress has been made with the clover scorch problem since the devastation of the 971 epidemic when intensive research began.

Over 2000 varieties and crossbreds of subterranean clover from various collections have been screened for resistance resulting in the release of the first resistant clover, Esperance, this year.

Benefits of fungicidal spraying have been demonstrated and low cost spraying programmes for grazed pastures, and seed and hay crops are under field investigation.

Prospects For A Successful Rape Crop, M J. Barbetti, A. G. P. Brown, P. Mcr. Wood

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

Since the disastrous 1972 season, when blackleg disease reached epidemic proportions, rapeseed production has declined dramatically. With attractive prices for rapeseed in prospect many farmers may be trying this crop again.

If the risk of loss from blackleg could be assessed early in the season it would assist in deciding whether rape would be an economic proposition.

Pit And Scald Of Granny Smiths, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Trials investigating storage and shipping disorders of fruit, mainly apples and pears, are conducted annually in cool rooms made available to the Department by the W.A. Meat Export Works.

Glume Blotch Of Wheat, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Glume blotch on wheat crops is seen frequently in some areas of Western Australia and was particularly severe in the West Midlands in 1971.

The disease is caused by the fungus Septoria nodorum which infects the leaves, stems and heads of the wheat plant.

Diseases Of Rape, A Bokor

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

A few serious outbreaks of disease occurred in rape crops in Western Australia in 1971 but future crop losses will be much greater where routine disease prevention is not practised.

Control measures for all these diseases are based on efficient destruction of crop residues by grazing and burning and by rotations which allow time for decay of below ground residues.

Why Australia Needs Plant Quarantine, A T. Gulvin

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

LATE blight of potatoes in 1830, powdery mildew of grapes in 1847, phylloxera in 1861, downy mildew in 1875, and black rot in 1838 . . . It was this grim list of plant disease epidemics in Europe that forced Governments to protect plants by quarantine.

Downy Mildew Of Crucifers, G C. Macnish

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

DOWNY mildew of crucifers is of world wide distribution.

In other parts of the world it has been recorded on a number of cruciferous plants, but to the present time this disease has only been recorded on cauliflower and cabbage in Western Australia.

Plant Diseases : Leaf Spot Of Celery, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

LEAF SPOT is the most serious disease of celery in Western Australia, and causes heavy losses in many crops during the cold wet months of June, July and August.

The disease is incited by the fungus Septoria apii Chester, and was first recorded in this State at Osborne Park in 1923.

Since then it has become a limiting factor in the production of marketable celery during the winter months.

Apple Dieback In Western Australia, Frank Melville

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

Dieback of apple trees has been a serious and persistent problem in Western Australian orchards for many years.

Field observations and trials suggest that it can be greatly reduced or avoided by spray thinning to control cropping, summer irrigation, light pruning, and avoidance of root damage by cultivation.

Bactericidal Sprays For Tomato Bacterial Canker, O M. Goss

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

BACTERIAL CANKER of tomatoes causes its greatest damage in crops grown in the spring and autumn months in Western Australia. It is particularly damaging when the weather is unusually stormy and cool.

Bactericidal sprays applied immediately after pruning or after severe storms should reduce the spread of tomato bacterial canker—report of an experiment.

Take-All Of Wheat On The Esperance Downs, S C. Chambers

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

THE agricultural development of the Esperance Downs was reviewed recently by Shier, Dunne and Fitzpatrick (1963) who indicated the great potential of this region.

They described the establishment of clover ley pastures capable of supporting heavy stocking rates. Crops of oats or linseed also give excellent returns.

Weed-free rotations which include linseed, oats or vetches may reduce wheat losses caused by take-all on the Esperance Downs.

Bordeaux Mixture, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

BORDEAUX mixture is still proving a most effective spray against many serious plant diseases in this State despite the increasing use of the newer organic fungicides.

When properly made and applied it adheres to the plants with great tenacity and strongly resists the weathering action by rain.