Western Australia
August 6, 2015
Course participants at a previous course practice using their new skills to correctly diagnose plant disease
Producers, agronomists and consultants whose work involves identifying disease in crops or pastures are invited to attend a practical disease identification course provided by the Department of Agriculture and Food.
Department grains researcher Geoff Thomas said the disease identification course to be held on 20-21 August at the department’s South Perth office would help participants develop confidence in diagnosing and subsequently controlling broadacre crop diseases.
“In order to effectively control plant disease, it is vital the disease is accurately diagnosed,” Mr Thomas said.
“Early correct diagnosis can reduce yield losses by ensuring timely disease management and avoid unnecessary expenditure on non-disease issues.
Plant disease ID course participants will learn how to differentiate between diseases such as Powdery mildew in barley and herbicide damage.
“Skills to be covered in the course include recognising major plant disease symptoms, understanding how and when diseases occur, and an introduction to control measures.
“There will also be sessions to differentiate disease from herbicide damage or other factors that cause leaf damage, as well as correct procedures for sampling affected plants.
“It is important that crop samples sent for confirmatory diagnosis or investigation are correctly sampled to enable laboratory staff to undertake the range of investigations that are sometimes required.”
The course includes practical sessions in the laboratory with infected crop materials and in disease plots to provide participants hands-on experience recognising diseases.
Mr Thomas said the course would also introduce the range of mobile device apps designed to help with identification and reporting of diseases.
Plant pathologist Dominie Wright, who has extensive experience in the broadacre diagnostic service of the department’s AgWest Plant Laboratories, will present the course, together with experienced department plant pathology colleagues with expertise across the range of WA broadacre crops.
Co-presenters include Brenda Coutts - virus diseases; Sarah Collins – root nematodes; Daniel Hùˆberli - root diseases of cereal crops; Ravjit Khangura - canola pathology; and Mr Thomas - foliar pathology of lupin and cereal crops.
The plant identification course costs $250 per person and includes course learning materials and resources and catering for the two days.
The workshop is supported by the Grains Research and Development Corporation as part of the department project, Improving grower surveillance, management, epidemiology knowledge and tools to manage crop disease.
For more information or to register, contact Geoff Thomas +61 (0)8 9368 3262 or 0428 947 287.
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