A MULTI-FACETED APPROACH TO SOIL-BORNE DISEASE MANAGEMENT (VG15010)

This three-year project aims to provide Australian vegetable growers with the tools, information and skills they need to manage the risk of crop losses due to soil-borne disease in the major vegetable growing regions in Australia. There are five soil-borne disease groups that continue to be a major problem for Australian vegetable growers: Sclerotinia spp. (S. sclerotiorum and S. minor); Fusarium spp, (F. oxysporum and F. solani), water moulds (primarily Plythium spp.), nematodes and Rhizoctonia spp. The project, being run jointly between RMCG and AHR is delivering an efective soil-borne disease management service to Australian growers, utilising the successful extension and delivery framework already developed under the Soil Wealth and Integrated Crop Protection projects. 

Contact: Gordon Rogers, Applied Horticultural Research
               gordon@ahr.com.au

Improved soil-borne disease diagnostic capacity for the australian vegetable industry (vg15009)

This project is being run by SARDI who developed the PreDicta B molecular soil tests for the detection and quantification of soil-borne disease organisms for cereals. The project will focus on the development of molecular diagnostic probes for the identification of soil-borne diseases for vegetables. The focus will be on developing new diagnostic techniques for club root in brassicas and cavity spot disease in carrots. In addition there will be calibration studies undertaken on a wider range of soil-borne disease organisms that affects vegetable crops, including Sclerotinia, Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia and nematodes. The project is coordinating with VG15010.  

Contact: Michael Rettke, South Australian Research and Development Institute
               Michael.Rettke@sa.gov.au

Viruses of national importance to the vegetable industry (vg15008)

This project is a desktop review considering viruses of national importance in relevant leviable vegetable crops. It covers aspects of virus epidemiology such as host range, transmission rates and mechanisms, influencing factors (e.g. environmental factors), diagnostic capacity and potential management options. The review includes a prioritisation of future R&D in this area, considering potential for improvements in management practices of viruses of national importance and reduction of impacts of these viruses that would contribute to improvements in productivity and profitability of vegetable production in Australia.

Contact: Byron de Kock (HIA), The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
               byron.dekock@horticulture.com.au

Innovative solutions to management of tospoviruses of vegetable crops (vg14063)

For more information about this project contact the project leader. 

Contact: Neena Mitter, The University of Queensland
               n.mitter@uq.edu.au 

MANAGEMENT and detection of bacterial leaf spot in capsicum and chilli crops (vg14010)

This project is currently in the research phase. For more information about this project contact the project leader. 

Contact: Denis Persley, The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
              denis.persley@daff.qld.gov.au

summer root rot in parsley scoping study (vg12102)

Previous investigations into root rots in parsley crops have largely focused on winter root rots caused by Pythium and Phytophthora and not summer root rots. The incidence of summer root rots is variable and growers do not know when they will lose a crop. Crop losses of up to 90% or greater can occur. Summer root rots generally occur after a period of increased irrigation applications or a significant rainfall event. Fusarium was identified as the only common root rot pathogen identified in all three plan and soil samples that underwent plant pathology assessment. 

Contact: Stuart Grigg, Stuart Grigg Ag-Hort Consulting Pty Ltd
               stuart@sgaghortconsulting.com.au

Effective management of parsley summer root rot (vg13101)

This project is investigating methods for controlling parsley summer root rot. The project is in its final year and results are expected in early 2017. Contact the project leader for more information. 

Contact: Len Tesoriero, NSW Department of Primary Industries
               len.tesoriero@dpi.nsw.gov.au

weed management for the vegetable industry - scoping study (vg13079)

This project is a review of weed management for the vegetable industry. There is now a follow-on project that is being conducted by Paul Kristiansen, which covers both research and extension in relation to weed management for Australian vegetable growers. 

Contact: Paul Kristiansen, University of New England
               paul.kristiensen@une.edu.au

INTEGRATED CROP PROTECTION: extension of integrated crop protection information (vg13078)

This project is focused on communicating information about pest, disease and weed management to vegetable growers and their advisers. It is being run in collaboration with the soil wealth project, jointly run by Applied Horticultural Research and RM Consulting Group. Topics covered include: weeds, pest management, disease management, soil-borne disease, pesticide application, integrated pest management. This is being achieved through a combination of training, webinars, factsheets, videos and field demonstration. 

Contact: Anne-Maree Boland, RM Consulting Group
               anne-mareeb@rmcg.com.au

Identification of potential alternatives to metham sodium (vg13045)

Metham Sodium is a broad-spectrum fumigant used to control a variety of soil-borne pests and diseases including nematodes, fungi, insects and weeds. An integrated crop protection alternative was proposed as an alternative to metham sodium. The approach included biofumigation, proven amendments or "soil/plant health enhancers"; rotation or break crops such as seed crops/pasture breaks and biocides/biological control. 

Contact: Doris Blaesing, RM Consulting Group
               dorisb@rmcg.com.au

Adaptive pest management for horticulture under climate change - pilot pest scoping (vg13029)

The two case studies were silverleaf whitefly (Bemisa tabaci) in Bundaberg and diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella). Both pests were modelled to explore how their climate suitability might change under climate change scenarios. We found that both pests could increase the number of lifecycles they can complete each year by approximately 50%. The report made three recommendations:

1 - Determine if it feasible to make periodic assessments of pest densities (e.g. every 5 years) to monitor how pest abundance changes over time
2 - Investigate the reasons for poor adoption of existing pest management recommendations
3 - Improve grower understanding of the nature of climate changes and no regrets options for adapting management practices to changing conditions

Contact: Darren Kriticos, CSIRO Climate Adaptation Flagship
               darren.kriticos@csiro.au

MAnagement of insecticide resistance in the green peach aphid (VG12109)

Green peach aphid is a widespread and damaging pest in a broad range of horticultural crops and for effective management growers should:

• Have resistance management strategies in place for this pest. High levels of resistance to synthetic pyrethoids, carbamates and organophosphates are widespread across Australia
• Due to the way aphids reproduce, resistant individuals can soon dominate a landscape with widespread use of the same insecticide
• Incorporating non-chemical control methods is critical to GPA management

Contact: Paul Umina, Cesar Pty Ltd
               pumina@unimelb.edu.au

Improving the management of insect contaminants in processed leafy vegetables (vg12108)

Insect contaminants in harvested leafy vegetables crops is a major source of rejection for Australian vegetable growers. This project, conducted in collaboration with One Harvest, assessed the effectiveness of ways to remove insect contaminants from leafy vegetables, especially baby leaf spinach and lettuce. 

The most effective practices were:

• Remove from the crop prior to harvest by using a combination of blowers, chains in the crops and shaking tables
• Removing moths from crops using the Vortex insect trapping system prior to harvest
• Floating row covers as a physical barrier to exclude insects
• Low toxicity, short withholding period insecticides can also be beneficial
• Removing insects from leafy vegetables in the field is better than removing them on the processing line
• Dead insects (moths) were easier to remove in the processing line than live moths

Contact: Gordon Rogers, Applied Horticultural Research
               gordon@ahr.com.au

uPdating and republishing vegetable industry resources (vg12087)

This project has resulted in the publication of five pest and disease identification unit guides covering:

• Pests, Diseases and Disorders of Carrots, Celery and Parsley
• Pests, Diseases and Disorders of Sweet Corn
• Pests, Diseases and Disorders of Sweet Potato
• Pests, Diseases and Disorders of Brassicas
• Pests, Diseases and Disorders of Babyleaf Crops

The project has also developed a pest and disease identification app called VegPestID, which can be downloaded for Android or Apple phones and tablets from the Play Store or Apple store. 

Contact: Gordon Rogers, Applied Horticultural Research
               gordon@ahr.com.au

Plant health desktop study (vg12048)

Key study of resource lists from all VG Plant Health Projects. In addition to the review, there is a detailed database of all previous crop protection projects, an economic evaluation tool spreadsheet and instruction guide, and a separate document, which outlines the smart phone apps that are available to assist in managing vegetable crop protection. The implementation of this strategy has been achieved through the integrated crop protection and soil wealth projects. Refer to the Soil Wealth/ICP website for more information.

Contact: Doris Blaesing, RM Consulting Group
               dorisb@rmcg.com.au  

REview of soil-borne disease management in australian vegetable production (vg11035)

This is a key study in relation to managing soil-borne disease in vegetable crops in Australia. This study reviews all previous work in relation to soil-borne disease management and research as of 2012, in Australia. This study informed the new soil borne disease project, which is currently involved in research and extension in vegetable soil borne disease in Australia. 

Contact: Prue McMichael, Scholefield Robinson Horticultural Services Pty Ltd
               srhs@srhs.com.au

Developing a strategy to control Anthracnose in lettuce (vg10123)

The project reviewed current Australian and international best practice in relation to managing Anthracnose in head lettuce, with a focus on iceberg and cos lettuce. The project included an industry consultation workshop with input from Australian plant pathologists, the vegetable seed industry, processors and major vegetable growers in Australia. 

Contact: Gordon Rogers, Applied Horticultural Research
               gordon@ahr.com.au

MANAGEMENT of virus diseases in vegetables (vg10104)

This project reviewed control measures for viral diseases in capsicum and cucurbit crops in Australia. Diseases covered included cucumber mosiac virus, zucchini yellow mosaic virus in WA and tomato spotted wilt virus in greenhouse grown capsicum in Adelaide. Tolerant zucchini varieties were identified for Gatton, Queensland, producing up to 90% marketable fruit compared to susceptible varieties (20% marketable). Biological control of thrips is reducing tomato spotted wilt virus in Adelaide. Control should also include planting upwind from existing crops to reduce insect vector movement and destroying harvested, infected crops prior to planting new crops. 

Contact: Denis Persley, The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
               denis.persley@daff.qld.gov.au

Breeding capSicum for tospovirus resistance (vg10081)

Contact the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for more information. 

Scoping study for sustainable broadleaf weed control IN cucurbit crops (vg10048)

This project reviewed the current research and information available in relation to weed control on cucurbit crops. This issues for weed management are a sprawling plant habitat and the lack of registered herbicides available for broadleaf weed control. The study identified recent innovative approaches including soil solarisation, biofumigation, cover crops, bio herbicides and biodegradable mulch films. There are also several herbicides registered overseas for use in cucurbit crops that are not currently registered in Australia.

Contact: Brian Sindel, University of New England
               bsindel@une.edu.au

INtegrated weed management in vegetable brassicas (vg09137)

The project has produced the factsheet “A guide to effective weed control in Australian brassicas”. There is also a final report and a VegeNote available for download for more information. Please note that your Eurofins Agrisearch have now changed their name and the email address for Les Mitchell may no longer be functional.

Contact: Les Mitchell, Eurofins Agrisearch
               les.mitchell@agrisearch.com.au

Brassica stem canker: phase 2 (vg09129)

This project investigated the use of fungicides and plant growth products in the management of Brassica stem canker. None of the products evaluated provided complete control of stem canker. The fungicides Impact-In-Furrow® (flutriafol) and Jockey (fluquinconazole) in combination with Amistar ® (axozystrobin) reduced stem canker in both greenhouse and field evaluations, and registration of these products for use on vegetable Brassica crops was recommended. The research showed the use of plant growth products and fungicides in low disease situations did not significantly reduce stem canker severity, but could improve plant growth.

Contact: Barbara Hall, South Australian Research and Development Institute
               barbara.hall@sa.gov.au

Investigations for mass rearing of orius armatus for controlling western flower thrips in the australian vegetable industry (vg08186)

The project report explains how to rear the biological control agent Orius armatus for the control of western flower thrips in the Australian vegetable industry. The report includes information on laboratory and greenhouse bioassays, how to breed and use the biological control agent, with a focus on greenhouse vegetable production. 

Contact: Lachlan Chilman, Manchil IPM Services
               lachlanchilman@hotmail.com

Mechanisms and management of insecticide resistance in australian diamondback moth (vg08062)

Diamondback moth (DBM) (Plutella xylostella L.) is the main pest of Brassica vegetable crops in Australia, and has international notoriety for rapidly acquiring insecticide tolerance, which then leads to field control failures. DBM resistance to older insecticide classes is widespread in Australia; hence the choices for DBM control are increasingly limited to several newer synthetic pesticides and Bacillus thuringiensis products. This project investigated mechanisms and options for managing resistance to diamondback moth control measures. 

Contact: Greg Baker, South Australian Research and Development Institute
               greg.baker@sa.gov.au

Getting the most out of eretmocerus hayati, an effective natural enemy of the silverleaf whitefly (vg08051)

The research focused on how to get more out of the parasitoid, and better silverleaf whitefly (SLW) control by investigating: What management practices and decisions influence the abundance and distribution of the parasitoid; what features of the landscape influence the capacity of the parasitoid to achieve early colonisation of at-risk crops; and why the introduced E. hayati provides better control than the native E. mundus. Results were used to provide guidelines to growers that help to integrate control options for SLW. These guidelines were summarised in a user guide which identified a set of practical approaches that growers could adopt and integrate into their farming practice. The guide was prepared in consultation with growers so that the content and layout made sense to them. 

Contact: Paul de Barro, CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences
               Paul.Debarro@csiro.au

Identification of immune-suppressors of diamond-back moth (vg08048)

This research suggests that immune-suppression could be utilised as part of integrated pest and resistance management strategies, for Brassica caterpillar pests. In addition, as the immune-suppressive compounds are not inherently toxic per se, they would have less environmental impact and be seen as a greener option compared to traditional insecticides and/or could be used synergistically with traditional insecticides and other existing management options. We estimate that a further 1–2 years research would be needed to provide the level of understanding (of the compounds) required to investigate commercial development with relevant partners such as agrichemical companies. 

Contact: Richard Glatz, South Australian Research and Development Institute
               richard.glatz@sa.gov.au

Investigations and developing integrated management strategies for carrot powdery mildew (vg08044)

Powdery mildew has been found on a carrot crops in three states of Australia. The first finding of the disease was in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA) of NSW in 2007. It has subsequently been found in Tasmania and South Australia in 2008. A factsheet outlining the cultural and chemical control is available. Permits are now (2016) available for: AMISTAR 250 SC FUNGICIDE (Permit 14816) and FOLICUR 430 SC FUNGICIDE and HORNET 500 SC 430SC (Permit 13091). More information on the status of permits and registration is available at www.apvma.gov.au.

Contact: Andrew Watson, NSW Department of Primary Industries
              andrew.watson@dpi.nsw.gov.au

DEvelopment of methods to monitor and control aphanomyces root rot and black root rot of beans (vg08043)

A detailed FAQ sheet outlines the biology of the disease, photographs of symptoms and current control practices. 

Contact: Andrew Watson, NSW Department of Primary Industries
              andrew.watson@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Identification of ipm strategies for pythium induced root rots in apiacae vegetable crops (vg08026)

Identification of IPM strategies for Pythium induced root rots in Apiaceae vegetable crops. The project was aimed at determining the role of Pythium in causing root rot and canker,  identifying predisposing factors to disease and disease control strategies. Chemical control options are briefly outlined in the fact sheet with more detail in the final report. 

Contact: Elizabeth Minchinton, The Department of Economic Development,                       Jobs, Transport and Resources
              liz.minchinton@dpi.vic.gov.au

IDENTIFICATION and monitoring of resisTance in vegetable crops in australia (vg07119)

Findings from this study contributed to the development of guidelines for improved resistance management which were published through VG07110 (Best practice production models in lettuce, brassica) and VG07109 (Development of effective pesticide strategies compatible with IPM management used on farm). A key recommendation is that growers should continue to follow resistance strategies to minimise further development of resistant populations. It is critical that availability of alternative fungicides from different classes be available for these strategies to be sustained.

Please note: We were unable to find the final reports for VG07110 or VG07109. We suggest you contact the project leader information about these follow-on projects. 

Contact: Len Tesoriero, NSW Department of Primary Industries
              len.tesoriero@dpi.nsw.gov.au

The delivery of ipm for the lettuce industry - an extension to vg05044 (vg07076)

This project set out to establish the resistance status of several important fungal and bacterial pathogens from Australian vegetable crops. Findings from this study contributed to the development of guidelines for improved resistance management which were published through VG07110 (Best practice production models in lettuce, brassica) and VG07109 (Development of effective pesticide strategies compatible with IPM management used on farm). A detailed factsheet on Lettuce Integrated Pest Management along with the final report is available.

Contact: Sandra McDougall, NSW Department of Primary Industries
               sandra.mcdougall@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Benchmarking predictive models, nutrients and irrigation for management of downy and powdery mildews and white blister (vg07070)

This project focused on white blister on brassicas, powdery mildew on cucurbits and downy mildew and anthracnose on lettuce. The project determined the efficacy and economics which could be achieved with weekly fungicide sprays, disease predictive models, irrigation timing and growing a resistant variety, but the latter was the most superior IPM tool. It evaluated the benefits of nutrient management; developed a disease predictive model for powdery mildew of cucurbits and a detection kit for airborne spores of white blister.

The outcomes of this project, methodology conclusions and recommendations are outlined in a VegeNote entitled "Benchmarking predictive models, nutrients and irrigation for management of downy and powdery mildews and white blister". There is also a separate factsheet entitled "Benchmarking Models, Aerial Spore Sampling, Irrigation and Nutrients for downy mildew of lettuce and white blister on brassicas”.

Contact: Elizabeth Minchinton, The Department of Economic Development,                       Jobs, Transport and Resources
              liz.minchinton@dpi.vic.gov.au

Thrips management in the green beans industry (vg07017)

Thrips can attack green beans from the moment the seedlings emerge from the ground through to flowering,

but it is the damage some do during flowering that has the greatest impact. This project investigated the management of thrips in green beans. The outcomes of the project are summarised in a fact sheet. 

Contact: John Duff, The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
               john.duff@daff.qld.gov.au

INcreasing adoption of ipm by wa vegetable growers and development of an ongoing technical support service (vg06037)

Grower uptake of IPM in Western Australia was poor before this project commenced in 2007, with lettuce and capsicum growers spraying prophylactically for western flower thrips (WFT). Additional management tools were developed during the project, including the evaluation of a native WFT predator (Orius armatus) and a thrips predatory mite (Neoseiulus cucumeris) in greenhouse capsicum, and bioassays to determine which commonly used pesticides could be safely used with O. armatus. The potential of a non-chemical control method using thrips attractants was also evaluated. For more information download the final report.

Note: Refer to the related project VG08186 (Investigations for mass rearing of Orius armatus for controlling Western Flower Thrips in the Australian Vegetable Industry). 

Contact: Sonya Broughton, Western Australian Agriculture Authority
               sonya.broughton@agric.wa.gov.au