Life Sciences Commons^™

Armyworm Control In Coarse Grain Crops, G D. Rimes

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

Investigations of armyworm infestations carried out in Western Australia during 976 have shown that a complex of three species is involved in the spasmodic outbreaks that may cause damage to course grain crops.

This article looks at the economics of control methods.

Root Rot Of Subterranean Clover In W.A, G C. Macnish, M. J. Barbetti, D. Gillespie, K. Hawley

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

Root rot of subterranean clover has occurred sporadically in the south west of Western Australia for a number of years.

In most seasons the disease has affected the clover paddocks of only a few farms, but in 1973 there was widespread pasture decline due to root rot in the South-West and south coastal districts.

At present the most promising approaches for minimising the effect of root rot appear to be the use of cultivation techniques and eventually the use of resistant varieties, or other pasture species.

Lupin Split Seed : A Disorder Of Seed Production In Sweet, Narrow-Leafed Lupins, M W. Perry, J. W. Gartrell

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

Commercial seed production from narrow-leafed lupins (Lupinus angustifolius L.) began in Western Australia in 1967, based on the newly-bred low alkaloid cultivar Uniwhite. The release of improved cultivars has led to the crop's wide acceptance and more than 100 000 ha were sown to sweet lupins in 1975.

With the greater area and wider range of soil types devoted to lupins, a developmental abnormality of the seeds, which became known as "split seed", was observed in some situations.

Grain Crop Varieties For Western Australia, H M. Fisher

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

Recommendations for grain crop varieties grown in Western Australia are based on the results of field trials carried out each year by the Department of Agriculture at some 50 sites throughout the agricultural areas.

New varieties are tested directly against existing commercial varieties in large scale field trials for several years. Yield and quality results are analysed and market requirements are studied before recommendations are formulated.

This article gives information on the varieties of a range of crops now recommended for growing in Western Australia.

Subterranean Clover In W.A. 1. The Current Situation, B J. Quinlivan, C. M. Francis

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

From small beginnings some 50 or more years ago subterranean clover has come to dominate the pasture scene in Western Australia. Of the 7 000 000 hectares of sown pasture all but some 500 000 are sown to subterranean clover. Further, it is estimated that there remains an area of similar size still to be sown, although in some instances these future sowings will be possible only if suitable varieties are available.

Clearing and pasture development within the various agricultural regions of the State took place, as a rule, within quite clearly defined time intervals and the varieties selected for …

Trikkala, A New Safe Clover For Wet Areas, C M. Francis

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

Trikkala is a new low oestrogen subterranean clover cultivar which has been released to seed producers this year. It should be available in quantity to farmers in 1977 and is recommended as an alternative to Yarloop for winter-wet situations.

Prospects For Control Of Phytopathogenic Bacteria By Bacteriophages And Bacteriocins, Anne K. Vidaver

Department of Plant Pathology: Faculty Publications

The last review on bacteriophages and bacteriocins of phytopathogenic bacteria was that of Okabe & Goto (98). All but one (21) of the subsequent reviews (II, 12, 60, 94, 104) have dealt primarily with viruses and bacteriocins of bacteria other than phytopathogens. The most recent microbiological compendia that in­ clude bacteriophages and bacteriocins are of limited value for phytobacteriolo­ gists because the authors generally overlook or ignore such agents (29, 47, 77, 119). However, Adam's classic .book (4), the review by Bradley (II), and the bibliography of Raettig (102) are still of value to phytobacteriologists as are reviews dealing principally …

Pollution Of Surface Irrigation Waters By Plant Pathogenic Organisms, James R. Steadman, C. R. Maier, H. F. Schwartz, E. D. Kerr

Department of Plant Pathology: Faculty Publications

Systematic sampling of waterways and irrigation runoff from agricultural lands in the North Platte Project of Nebraska in July and August of 1972–1974 demonstrated that phytopathogenic organisms were disseminated. The organisms monitored included the bean common blight bacterium Xanthomonas phaseoli, the bean white mold fungus Whetzelinia sclerotiorum and various nematodes. Although many types of nematodes often were recovered from irrigation water, Heterodera sp. cysts which cause significant disease problems in the valley were found infrequently. Patterns of movement of the bacterial and fungal organisms were correlated with previous or current season infection of bean plants. The short-term survival of X. …

Leaf Freckles And Wilt Of Corn Incited By Corynebacterium Nebraskense Schuster, Hoff, Mandel, Lazar, 1972, M. L. Schuster

Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station: Historical Research Bulletins

The new bacterial disease Leaf Freckles and Wilt (LFW) of corn (Zea mays L.) was first observed in 1969 on two farms in southcentral Nebraska. Since then it has spread to other areas in the state. LFW is a serious disease on farms in six Nebraska counties (Clay, Custer, Dawson, Furnas, Hall and Phelps) and has been found in isolated cases in at least 28 other counties. In 1971 LFW was found in a seedcorn field in western Iowa, in 1973 in two Kansas counties, and in 1974 in South Dakota and Colorado. Because of its explosive nature, several …

Intermediates In The Biosynthesis Of Double-Stranded Ribonucleic Acids Of Bacteriophage Φ6, D. L. Coplin, James L. Van Etten, James A. Koski, A. K. Vidaver

Department of Plant Pathology: Faculty Publications

Pseudomonas phaseolicola infected with bacteriophage φ6 synthesized all three viral double-stranded RNA segments, three single-stranded RNAs, and three replicative intermediate-like RNAs in the presence of rifampin. The single-stranded RNA intermediates sedimented and electrophoresed along with melted viral double-stranded RNA, annealed with melted viral double-stranded RNA, and were transient in nature. The relative amounts of the single-stranded RNA intermediates varied during the infection cycle and were altered in the presence of chloramphenicol. The replicative intermediate-like RNAs sedimented faster than double-stranded RNA, failed to enter 2.5% polyacrylamide gels, eluted with double-stranded RNA from a CF-11 cellulose column, were precipitated with single-stranded RNA …

Survival Factors Of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria, M. L. Schuster, D. P. Coyne

Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station: Historical Research Bulletins

The research works discussed in this review were selected to provide a cross section of the phenomenon of survival of plant pathogenic bacteria.

Blackleg Of Rapeseed, A Bokor, M. J. Barbetti, A. G. P. Brown, G. C. Mac Nish, P. Mcr. Wood

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

Unless blackleg can be controlled there is little future for rapeseed as a major commercial crop in W.A.

Until 1972, oilseed rape showed great promise as an alternative cash crop for Western Australian farmers, especially in the Great Southern and south coastal areas.

However, like most other cruciferous crops, rape is prone to attack from diseases and insect pests. Most of these can be controlled, but the fungus disease blackleg (Leptosphaeria maculans) emerged as a major threat to the industry.

Clearly, unless the disease can be controlled, there is little future for rapeseed as a major commercial crop in Western …

Promising Results With Pineapples At Carnarvon, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

Pineapples were investigated commercially in Carnarvon in the early 1930's but drought, sunscorch, alkaline soils and problems with transport and marketing caused the infant industry to collapse in 1936.

Recently however, trials at Gascoyne Research Station have shown that pineapples can produce good yields of high quality fruit in the area.

The trials have been aimed at establishing the viability of pineapple production at Carnarvon and have been carried out by officers of the Horticulture Division.

Breeding Better Rape And Lineseed For Western Australia, N N. Roy, J. Reeves

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

Rapeseed and linseed—the main oil seed crops grown in the south-west of Western Australia—have both been beset by problems which have limited farmers' interest in them.

Rapeseed was first grown commercially in 1970, when wheat quotas and low prices for other cereals forced farmers to seek alternative cash crops. The area sown to rapeseed increased rapidly, but disastrous outbreaks of the disease blackleg caused rapid decline, and little rapeseed is now sown.

Linseed has been grown in W.A. for more than 30 years. Linseed rust proved disastrous but was overcome by the introduction and breedbreeding of rust-resistant varieties. In recent …

Evaluation Of The Systemic Nematicide Phenamiphos To Control The Nematode Anguina Sp In Toxic Ryegrass Pasture, B A. Stynes

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Field trials done in 1974 showed that phenamiphos could be used to control Anguina sp. and suggested that low rates may be effective with critical timing of applications. These possibilities were investigated in 1975. Locality - Katanning - F. Quartermaine and c. Butterworth. Gnowangerup - J. Griffith. Tables 1 and 2 show the absolute levels of nematodes in ryegrass seed and the density of nematodes per unit area of pasture after treatment with phenamiphos. All rates of nematicide reduced the level and density of nematodes; the highest rate being slightly more effective. The spray schedule including sprays in July and …

Wheat Rust Epidemics, A G P Brown, J. T. Reeves

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

Stem rust of wheat is probably the most damaging plant disease in the world. The rust fungus attacks stems, leaves and heads, producing characteristic red-brown pustules which affect the plant's ability to fill out the grain. Yield loss is directly related to the amount of rust in the crop and the length of time the crop is infected.

In Western Australia it is not uncommon to find rust on crops in mid-October, but usually there is negligible loss of yield. In fact this pattern is quite normal throughout the world: In general, rust arrives too late to cause an epidemic. …

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.

Results Of The Fourth International Winter Wheat Performance Nursery, J. E. Stroike, V. A. Johnson, J. W. Schmidt, P. J. Mattern, K. D. Wilhelmi

Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station: Historical Research Bulletins

The Fourth International Winter Wheat Performance Nursery was grown in 1972 at 44 sites in 27 countries. Data were reported from 40 sites. The 30 cultivars grown in the nursery included 15 new entries. Twenty-nine cultivars were winter wheats; one was a spring wheat. Data are reported on grain yield, test weight, plant maturity, plant height, lodging, shattering, winter survival, 1000 kernel weight, frost damage, plant diseases, grain protein and lysine content. Two-year mean data summaries also are reported. Supplemental nursery management information is reported for each nursery site.

Influence Of Molecular Weights Of Bacteriophage Φ6 Double-Stranded Ribonucleic Acids On Interferon Induction, W.J. Kleinschmidt, James L. Van Etten, A. K. Vidaver

Department of Plant Pathology: Faculty Publications

The interferon-inducing capabilities of the three molecular segments of bacteriophage φ6 double-stranded ribonucleic acid increased with increasing molecular weight.

Purification And Characterization Of Syringacin 4-A, A Bacteriocin From Pseudomonas Syringae 4-A, William L. Haag, Anne K. Vidaver

Department of Plant Pathology: Faculty Publications

Syringacin 4-A, a bacteriocin produced by Pseudomonas syrinagae 4-A, was obtained by induction with ultraviolet irradiation or mitomycin C. Approximately 1,000-fold purification of the bacteriocin was achieved by manganous chloride precipitation, differential centrifugation, and chromatography on hydroxyapatite columns. The purified syngacin was homogeneous on hydroxyapatite columns and sucrose density gradients; it also sedimented as a single entity in the analytical ultracentrifuge. The buoyant density of purified syringacin in cesium chloride was 1.294 g/ml. The sedimentation coefficient was calculated as 120S, and the diffusion coefficient was 6.49 x 10^-8 cm²/s. The molecular weight was calculated as …

Base Composition And Hybridization Studies Of The Three Double-Stranded Rna Segments Of Bacteriophage Φ6, James L. Van Etten, A. K. Vidaver, R. K. Koski, J. P. Burnett

Department of Plant Pathology: Faculty Publications

The three double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) segments of the bacteriophage φ6 were isolated and shown to have similar melting temperatures and base compositions. RNA: RNA hybridization experiments with the isolated segments eliminate the possibility that the two smaller dsRNA segments arise from a cleavage of the large dsRNA segment. The two smaller RNA segments reanneal rapidly even at low temperatures; in contrast, the large dsRNA reannealed only at higher temperatures. Evidence is also presented which suggests that the dsRNAs may contain a short single-stranded RNA tail.

Physiological And Morphological Correlation Of Rhizopus Stolonifer Spore Germination, James L. Van Etten, Lee Bulla Jr., Grant St. Julian

Department of Plant Pathology: Faculty Publications

Sporangiospores of Rhizopus stolonifer were examined at various stages of germination by scanning electron and phase-contrast microscopy. These observations were correlated with changes in spore dry weight, spore volume, respiration, and syntheses of ribonucleic acid, deoxyribonucleic acid, and protein during germination.

Annual ('Wimmera') Ryegrass Toxicity, Geoffrey A. Pearce, O. M. Goss, P. H. Berry, J. L. Wise

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

Because annual ryegrass is one of the most widespread pasture plants in Western Australia, annual ryegrass toxicity is a threat to livestock in many agricultural areas—even though the area now affected is small.

The problem is being intensively studied by the Department of Agriculture and a working group has been set up to investigate potential control measures.

In this article the group reviews the problem and reports progress in its investigations to the end of 1973.

Nitrogen Fertilisers For Pasture Production, Walter Jacob Cox, K Hawley

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

At current prices nitrogen fertiliser is not an economic substitute for good clover pastures, but it can supplement the system by increasing nitrogen supply at peak growth periods. It can also provide useful increases in pasture production at critical feed times. Nitrogen usage for pasture production is still in the experimental stages and small areas should be tried before large-scale application.

Corynebacterium Nebraskense, A New, Orange-Pigmented Phytopathogenic Species, Anne K. Vidaver, Manley Mandel

Department of Plant Pathology: Faculty Publications

A new species of Corynebacterium isolated from field corn is described. The isolates form a homogeneous group that is recognized as a new species, Corynebacterium nebraskense. The organism is characterized by orange-pig-mented colonies, inability to grow on 0.005% triphenyltetrazolium chloride agar, specific bacteriophage sensitivity, and a guanine plus cytosine content of 73.5 mol%. These and other characters differentiate this organism from other described phytopathogenic corynebacteria. The type strain of C. nebraskense is Fur-1 (= ATCC 27822 = NCPPB 2578).

The Place Of Lucerne In Western Australian Agriculture, N J. Halse, C. M. Francis

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

Lucerne, the world's most important fodder legume, has never won largescale acceptance in West Australian farming, largely because of our success with productive subterranean clover pastures. But recent disease problems on sub. clover stands have led to greater interest in alternative species, especially lucerne, for higher rainfall areas.

This article summarises our knowledge of lucerne establishment and management in W.A. and reviews current research aimed at achieving better results from lucerne.

Survival Mechanisms Of Phytopathogenic Bacteria, M. L. Schuster, D. P. Coyne

Department of Plant Pathology: Faculty Publications

Natural habitats usually do not provide bacteria the continuity of agricultural crops. With continuous culture. perpetuation of pathogen is no problem. Although agricul­ tural practices provide some discontinuity between crops. it is less than that in nature. Uniformity of crop germ plasm also favors inoculum buildup and perhaps perpetuation of the pathogens.

Results Of The Third International Winter Wheat Performance Nursery, J. E. Stroike, V. A. Johnson, J. W. Schmidt, P. J. Mattern, K. D. Wilhelmi

Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station: Historical Research Bulletins

This is the third report of results from an International Winter Wheat Performance Nursery (IWWPN) organized in 1968 by the Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station and the Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under a contract with the Agency for International Development, U.S. Department of State. The nursery was designed to (1) test the adaptation of winter wheat varieties in a range of latitudes, daylengths, fertility conditions, water management, and disease complexes; (2) identify superior winter varieties to serve as recipient genotypes for high protein and high lysine genes, and (3) test the degree of expression and stability of the …

Rna Polymerase Activity Associated With Bacteriophage Φ6, James L. Van Etten, A. K. Vidaver, R. K. Koski, J. S. Semancik

Department of Plant Pathology: Faculty Publications

The Pseudomonas phaseolicola bacteriophage φ6 incorporated labeled UTP into an acid-insoluble precipitate. Incorporation was dependent on the presence of manganese acetate, ATP, GTP, CTP, and a short heat treatment of the phage; the reaction was stimulated by NH,Cl. The substitution of ¹⁴C-ATP, -CTP or -GTP for UTP, together with the appropriate unlabeled ribonucleoside triphosphates, disclosed that CMP was incorporated to the greatest extent followed by GMP, UMP, and AMP. Radioactive RNAs formed by the reaction were resistant to RNases A and T₁ in high salt but susceptible to these nucleases in low salt. The labeled RNA co-sedimented and …

Characteristics Of Deoxyribonucleic Acid Polymerase Isolated From Spores Of Rhizopus Stolonifer , Cheng-Shung Gong, Larry Dunkle, James L. Van Etten

Department of Plant Pathology: Faculty Publications

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)-dependent DNA polymerase was purified several hundredfold from germinated and ungerminated spores of the fungus Rhizopus stolonifer. The partially purified enzymes from both spore stages exhibited identical characteristics; incorporation of [³H] deoxythymidine monophosphate into DNA required Mg²⁺, DNA, a reducing agent, and the simultaneous presence of deoxyguanosine triphosphate, deoxycytidine triphosphate, and deoxyadenosine triphosphate. Heat-denatured and activated DNAs were better templates than were native DNAs. The buoyant density of the radioactive product of the reaction was similar to that of the template DNA. The enzyme is probably composed of a single polypeptide chain with …