Plant Pathology Commons^™

Diseases Recorded On Native Plants, Weeds, Field And Fibre Crops In Western Australia, G C. Macnish

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

This list is divided into three sections, the first dealing with native plants, the second with weeds (except grasses) and third with field and fibre crops.

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.

Hibiscus Collar Rot, G C. Macnish

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

FLOWERING hibiscus have been one of the most popular ornamentals in the home garden for several years.

However since about 1959, many home gardeners have been disappointed to see their hibiscus attacked and destroyed by a collar rot.

This disease, which is new in Western Australia, has been most destructive on the popular Apple Blossom variety.

Plant Diseases : Pear Scab : Control By Fungicidal Sprays, R F. Doepel, S. E. Hardisty

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

Scab is an important fungal disease of pears in Western Australia.

Serious fruit losses occur in orchards where spraying is neglected, poorly timed or inefficiently carried out.

A full spray schedule, using a proven fungicide, must be adopted from spur burst onwards to ensure protection of fruit and foliage.

Iron Deficiency Of Oats In The Lower South West, Edgar Noel Fitzpatrick, R. Sprivulis

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

Oats grown on the acid peaty sands of the West and South Coastal areas of Western Australia develop iron deficiency.

This deficiency can be cured by spraying with iron sulphate. A 2 to 4 per cent, solution can be applied through a low volume spray without damage to the plants. The spray should be repeated when deficiency symptoms reappear.

Growing oats on these soils is not recommended.

Gum Spots On Citrus Leaves, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

GUM SPOTS on citrus leaves are one of many types of leaf spots which prompt numerous enquiries from citrus growers.

Although they are fairly characteristic in appearance they are often confused with spots due to other causes, such as fungi, spray chemicals and so on.

Non-Parasitic Diseases Of Potatoes, S C. Chambers

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

POTATO tubers are subject to several non-parasitic diseases which are induced by unfavourable environmental conditions.

These disorders often cause considerable loss of marketable tubers, but in some instances this can be avoided by correct cultural, handling, or storage methods.

Control Of San Jose Scale, G D. Rimes

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

W ITH an export rejection rate in excess of 10,000 cases per year, the apple industry in W.A. is continually confronted with the problem of San Jose Scale control.

The Papaw : A Fruit For The Tropics And Sub-Tropics, K S. Cole, M. G. Hawson

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

TOE fruit of the papaw (Carica papaya) has a unique flavour and is a welcome addition to any diet.

In the tropics and sub-tropics the papaw is quite easy to grow and is adapted to a wide range of soils and climate.

Internal Decline Of Lemons, O M. Goss

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

LEMONS maturing on the trees during summer sometimes become affected with the condition known as internal decline.

Light Lands In Western Australia. 3. Microbiological Problems In The Establishment Of Legumes On Light Lands, C A. Parker

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

EXPERIENCE has shown that the establishment of leguminous pastures is essential for successful economic development of Western Australian light lands.

Subterranean clover is the preferred legume in most light land areas, with lupins holding an important place in the more northerly districts, and on the deeper sands.

Root Diseases In Wheat On Clover Ley : Factors Under Investigation. 1. The Role Of Oats After Ley, S C. Chambers

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

The role of oats in relation to root diseases of wheat was examined at four of the State Wheat Research Stations.

Several recognised pathogenic organisms were isolated in the course of the investigation, the most important being Ophiobolus graminis, which is the cause of "take-all."

Results suggest that one year under oats after clover ley is sufficient to reduce the incidence of take-all, except when seasonal conditions are extremely favourable to the disease.

In areas where take-all is a problem, wheat planted after a first crop of oats can sometimes give a higher yield than a first crop of wheat. …

Entyloma Leaf Spot Of English Marigold, R F. Doepel

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

THE English Marigold or Calendula is a hardy ornamental which is widely grown in gardens throughout Western Australia.

In recent years a serious fungal disease known as entyloma leaf spot has become established in home plantings.

Downy Mildew Of Lettuce, R F. Doepel

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

Downy mildew of lettuce is a fungal disease common in market gardens during autumn, winter and spring.

Severe outbreaks of the disease can be kept in check by timely applications of fungicidal sprays.

Yellow Dwarf Disease Of Cereals, H L. Harvey

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

YELLOW dwarf, caused by the barley yellow dwarf virus (Oswald and Houston 1951) was recorded in this State for the first time last season.

There is reason to believe that this disease has been present for some years but in the past its symptoms have been confused with various environmental and nutritional disorders.

Successive Crops In A Clover Ley Rotation, H M. Fisher

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

Recent investigations suggest that cereal production on clover leys in the medium rainfall region can be increased by growing a succession of cereal crops after the pasture phase.

In most areas accumulated fertility after four to five years of clover pasture will support two, and in some cases three, high yielding cereal crops grown in succession.

Where root rot diseases are prevalent it is an advantage to sow oats as the initial crop.

Water For Agriculture. 2. Plants For Salty Water, C V. Malcolm

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

ALL natural water supplies contain dissolved salts. In wet climates these salts are usually not present in sufficient quantity to cause plant damage.

However, in Western Australia many natural water supplies contain harmful amounts of dissolved salts.

Take Care Of Young Fruit Trees, R G. Cahill

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

Young fruit trees need good care if they are to grow well and produce good crops in later years.

Bridgetown Horticultural Instructor, R. G. Cahill, gives these hints for orchardists establishing young trees.

Although they take little effort to put into practice they will pay off well in the future.

Downy Mildew Of Wheat, S C. Chambers

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

DOWNY MILDEW is caused by the fungus Sclerospora macrospora Sacc. and is almost solely confined to waterlogged areas in paddocks of heavy soil types.

Generally, the disease is most evident in crab-hole gimlet country.

Wood-Rotting Fungi Associated With Dieback In Apple Trees : Progress Report : Orchard Surveys And Laboratory Studies, R F. Doepel

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

DIEBACK, or decline, of apple trees has been a serious problem for many years in orchards throughout the South-West of Western Australia.

Wood-rotting fungi are commonly associated with this condition and often bring about collapse of affected trees.

Root Diseases In Wheat On Clover Ley : Factors Under Investigation. 4. Seed Bed Preparation, S C. Chambers

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

The occurrence of root rots in wheat crops in relation to seed bed preparation was studied in a series of field experiments.

Results suggest depth of cultivation has little effect upon the incidence of root diseases.

Ploughing of the seed bed reduced the amount of root rot compared with scarifying and also gave higher yields.

However, the increased yield appears to be mainly due to better control of weeds.

Frost Injury Of Wheat, S C. Chambers

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

Late spring frosts commonly reduce yields and affect the quality of grain in many wheat crops- especially throughout the southern, eastern and north-eastern districts.

The damage is usually localised on individual farms, but occasionally widespread damage occurs in the south of the State.

Lettuce Spotted Wilt, H L. Harvey

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

SPOTTED wilt disease of lettuce was first recorded in Western Australia in 1937.

Only traces of the disease are found in some years but in other years it seriously affects yields and quality.

Spotted wilt is most prevalent in spring and autumn crops.

Powdery Scab Of Potatoes, S C. Chambers

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

Powdery scab is a serious tuber disease sometimes seen in the market gardens of Coogee and Spearwood.

The disease is most commonly associated with the early winter plantings and sometimes causes heavy losses to individual growers, more so in wet seasons.

Hibiscus Leaf Spot, O M. Goss

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

HIBISCUS shrubs, particularly the variety "Apple Blossom" are commonly affected during the winter and early spring months with an unsightly leaf spot disease.

Farming Without Fallow, H M. Fisher

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

UNDER the more intensive cropping rotations common in the early development of the cereal areas of Western Australia bare fallowing was a basic technique in cereal production.

By ploughing the land in July or August and keeping it bare of vegetation for nine or ten months, either by grazing or cultivation, a substantial beneficial effect on the subsequent crop could be expected.

Black Rot Of Cabbage, Cauliflower And Related Plants, W P. Cass Smith

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

BLACK ROT is a widespread disease which attacks many kinds of cruciferous plants.

In Western Australia, it is most prevalent and serious on cabbage and cauliflower, but it may also attack many other related plants, including brussels sprout, broccoli, turnip, swede, and a number of weeds such as mustard and wild radish.

Bare Patch And Poor Emergence Of Cereals. 3. Crusting Of The Soil Surface, S C. Chambers

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

In some seasons extensive bare patches occur in cereal crops sown on the heavier wheat belt soils.

Experimental results from Beverley indicate that the poor emergence in some of these plantings may be due to crusting of the soil surface.

Working the surface with light harrows may destroy the crust and improve emergence.

Root Diseases In Wheat On Clover Ley : Factors Under Investigation. 5. The Evaluation Of Fungicidal Treatments, S C. Chambers

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

The use of fungicides, either as seed or soil dressings, for the control of root rotting diseases of wheat, was examined in a series of field experiments.

Results suggest that seed dressings have no effect on the incidence of root rotting fungi in the mature crop.

When fungicides were applied to the soil, a reduction in the incidence of take-all was noted in one experiment, but the same treatments had toxic effects on plants in a second similar experiment.

Sclerotinia Rot Of Vegetables, S C. Chambers, M. Hardie

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

SCLEROTINIA ROT, caused by the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, is now one of the most serious vegetable diseases in metropolitan market gardens.

Over the past decade it has been steadily increasing in prevalence and if present trends continue, many growers may be forced to abandon certain crops.

Although most vegetables are susceptible, the greatest losses are occurring in the autumn planting of beans, cauliflowers and lettuce and in the production of cauliflower seed.