Life Sciences Commons^™

Control Of Perennial Grasses, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Perennial grasses such as paspalum, kikuyu and couch can be controlled by spraying with a solution containing 2,2-DPA.

This is a non-poisonous powder which is sold under a variety of trade names.

Stem Rust Of Wheat, H L. Harvey

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

STEM RUST is one of the most serious diseases of wheat and is of world-wide importance.

Fortunately, widespread epidemics are rare in Western Australia because the general climatic conditions are usually unfavourable to the disease.

Nevertheless, localised outbreaks of stem rust are quite common on the Esperance Plains and around Geraldton where seasonal conditions are frequently mild and humid.

Recommended Wheat Varieties, 1965 : State Wheat Advisory Committee Recommendations For Wheat Varieties For 1965 Plantings, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

State Wheat Advisory Committee recommendations for wheat varieties for 1965 plantings.

THE wheat rust epidemic of 1963 has directed attention to resistance of varieties to this disease, new races of which have recently appeared in Western Australia.

However, last year was one of abnormal seasonal conditions, with late summer rains followed by a mild winter, and spring conditions which favoured rust.

Mosaic Diseases Of Beans, H L. Harvey

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

TWO important diseases of beans in W.A. are common mosaic and yellow mosaic.

Both may cause malformation, stunting of growth and yield reductions and are most serious in the spring and early summer crops.

The Control Of Bitter Pit In Apples, Frank Melville, S. E. Hardisty, N. S. Shorter

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

Bitter pit is a physiological disorder of apples which causes considerable wastage of otherwise sound fruit .

It is a problem of world-wide occurrence and in Western Australia growing conditions appear particularly favourable for its development.

In recent years a practical means of control by calcium sprays has been developed.

Flower Greening And Witches' Broom, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

THE flower "greening" and witches' broom diseases may be found in a variety of plants.

Susceptible garden species include phlox, gerberas, vincas, dahlias, geraniums, asters and many others.

Leaf Spot Diseases Of Strawberry, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Leaf spot and leaf scorch are two important' fungal diseases of strawberry in Western Australia.

Satisfactory control can be obtained by good cultural methods and with captan or phaltan fungicides in a suitable spray programme.

A Revised List Of Fruit Diseases Recorded In Western Australia, R F. Doepel

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

THIS list of fruit diseases is a revision of part of the census published by Carne (1925) and supplemented by the same author in 1927.

It also contains records of diseases identified in the period between these earlier publications and June 30, 1961.

Linseed Growing In The Ord River Valley, D F. Beech

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

Experimental work with linseed at the Kimberley Research Station began in 1952 and has been intensified in the last four years.

Fertiliser requirements and methods of land preparation, sowing, irrigation and weed control have been established.

Suitable varieties have been selected. Farm-scale crops have been grown in the area and, although cotton is very much more remunerative as an establishment crop, it is expected that linseed will ultimately have a place in the Ord irrigation scheme.

Establishing Wheatbelt Pastures? Don't Use A Cover Crop, J A C Smith, D. B. Argyle

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

One of the factors which influence the establishment of improved pasture in the West Australian wheatbelt is whether the pasture legume is sown with a cover crop or not.

Mediocre establishment can follow when a cover crop is used and it is recommended that, for rapid establishment, any pasture legume should be sown without a cover crop.

Sclerotinia Disease Of Vegetables : Survival Of The Fungus In Soil, S C. Chambers, M. Hardie

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

Sclerotinia of vegetables is carried over in the soil of market gardens by means of resting fungal bodies called sclerotia.

Recent tests have shown that sclerotia may stay alive in the sandy soils of Spearwood for two years, but disappear from the wet peat soils of Wanneroo within six months

Rust Of Snapdragons, O M. Goss

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

RUST is possibly the most destructive disease attacking antirrhinums or snapdragons.

In Western Australia, the disease first appeared in 1955 and since that time has become very prevalent and widespread, frequently with devastating effects.

Daffodil Eelworm Diseases, O M. Goss

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

EELWORMS or nematodes are minute worm-like organisms, some of which cause plant diseases.

The plant parasitic forms are not visible to the naked eye but the damage resulting from their attack can be quite severe.

Black Spot Of Roses, G C. Macnish

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

ROSES are among the most popular and versatile ornamentals as they may be grown as climbers, bushes or standards.

Black Spot of roses can be prevented by combining good sanitary practices with the regular use of preventative fungicides such as maneb and folpet.

Take-All Of Wheat On The Esperance Downs : The Effect Of Multiple Cropping, S C. Chambers

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

A considerable increase in take-all occurred in the second crop of wheat following linseed, oats or vetches at the Esperance Downs Research Station.

THE take-all disease of wheat, caused by the fungus Ophiobolus graminis, has been responsible for many crop failures in the Esperance district during the past 15 years.

In an endeavour to find a practical solution to this problem, a crop rotation experiment was started in 1961 at the Esperance Downs Research Station.

Take-All Of Wheat On The Esperance Downs : The Ffect Of Nitrogenous Fertiliser, S C. Chambers

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

The number of wheat tillers affected by take-all was not influenced by the application of ammonium sulphate in an experiment at Esperance Downs Research Station.

However, its use stimulated tillering and increased yields by an estimated 7.4 bushels an acre.

Guard Against Bitter Pit, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Two seasons ago bitter pit' caused heavy rejections of apples for export overseas and bad trade publicity.

To avoid a repetition of this, precautions should be taken against bitter pit on all susceptible varieties.

Plant Diseases : Angular Leaf Spot Of Cucurbits, O M. Goss

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

ANGULAR leaf spot caused by the bactterium Pseudomonas lachrymans (E.F.Sm. & Bryan) Carsner, is common on cucumbers and gherkins grown late in the season.

The same disease has been recorded on rockmelons, watermelons and pumpkins but rarely occurs on these hosts in Western Australia.

Cover Spraying For Septoria Leaf Spot Of Celery, S C. Chambers

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

LEAF SPOT, caused by the fungus Septoria apii Chester is the most serious disease of celery in Western Australia and is responsible for heavy losses in many winter grown crops.

Excellent control of Seproria leaf spot on winter grown celery has been obtained with the fungicide Dyrene (R) when applied at 10-11 day intervals during the season.

Inoculation And Lime-Pelleting Of Leguminous Seeds, W P. Cass Smith, Olga M. Goss

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

IN Western Australia extensive areas of new land are brought under cultivation each year.

Much of this virgin soil is only sparsely populated with the beneficial rhizobial bacteria which nodulate the roots of common pasture and forage legumes, such as subterranean clover, barrel medic, lucerne and field pea.

A Revised List Of Diseases Of Ornamental Plants Recorded In Western Australia, O M. Goss

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

THIS list of ornamental diseases constitutes a revision of portion of the census published by Carne (1925) and added to by the same author in 1927.

It contains also records of diseases identified in the period between these earlier publications and June 30, 1961.

Wheat Breeding And Variety Trials, 1963-64, J T. Reeves

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

A review of the wheat breeding and pedigree seed production by the Department of Agriculture.

Yields from the wheat variety trials at agricultural research stations during the 1963-64 season are presented and discussed.

The 1963-64 Wheat Stem Rust Epidemic, J T. Reeves

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

Comments on the 1963 epidemic and the current situation regarding rust races and resistant varieties in Western Australia.

THE 1963-64 harvest included 12 million bushels of undergrade wheat, representing 25 per cent, of the total harvest.

The average yield was reduced to only 11.3 bushels per acre. Although these adverse effects were due to a number of causes, the principal one was stem rust.

The economic loss due to this disease in the 1963-64 harvest probably exceeded £10 million.

Take-All Disease Of Wheat, S C. Chambers

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

Take-all is the most serious of the several root-rotting diseases of wheat in Western Australia.

In the absence of cereal crops, the fungus responsible for take-all survives on the roots of native grasses.

Losses can be minimised by adopting cultural methods which reduce the amount of infective material in the soil and which also encourage vigorous growth of the crop.

Supplementary List Of Disease Recorded On Various Hosts In Western Australia, G C. Macnish

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

THIS supplement contains the diseases recorded on all hosts during the period July 1, 1961 and June 30, 1963 inclusive.

A few disease records omitted from previous census have been incorporated. A list of previous publications in this series is appended. Also appended is a list of common names of host plants to facilitate reference.

The Red-Legged Earth Mite And The Lucerne Flea [Replaced By Farmnote 67/86], Clee Francis Howard Jenkins

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

THE red-legged earth mite and the lucerne flea are the two most important pasture pests of Western Australia.

They commonly retard the establishment of new pastures by causing serious damage to pasture legume seedlings and in some seasons can damage cereal crops.

This article describes the pests and gives current recommended control measures.

Septoria Leaf Spot Of Tomatoes, S C. Chambers

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

SEPTORIA leaf spot was first observed on tomatoes in Western Australia in 1925.

Since then it has caused serious losses, both from seedling blight and defoliation of larger plants, on many occasions in autumn and spring crops.