Phytophthora and phosphite workshop
The AV16007 project team is holding a mixed in person/virtual update on their work with the use of phosphite treatments for Phytophthora. The session also includes an update on six spotted mite and future Phytophthora management.
Developing a better understanding of the pathogens that impact the avocado industry, their pathogenicity, tolerance to phosphite, the effect of the microbial community upon the pathogens, the best assessment tests to determine the amount of disease in avocado plants, and the development of effective management tools will enhance economic returns to the industry, reduce the threats of invasive pathogens, and make the industry more environmentally sustainable.
The overall objective of this Hort Innovation funded project is to develop robust, rapid and cost-effective ways to manage Phytophthora root rot (PRR) for the Australian avocado industry.
Workshop details
Date: Tuesday, 1 December
Time: WA – 9am, NT – 10.30am, QLD – 11am, SA – 11:30am, NSW/VIC/TAS – noon
Physical location: Manjimup Horticultural Research Facility (this will be a COVIDsafe event)
Virtual location: a webinar link will be provided, in advance, to everyone who RSVPs
RSVP: by Friday, 27 November, to Declan McCauley on Declan.McCauley@dpird.wa.gov.au.
Agenda
Phytophthora and phosphite (phosphonate) work in avocado, Giles Hardy, Murdoch University (45 minutes)
- Surveys of orchards across Australia for Phytophthora species with an emphasis on cinnamomi
- Screening cinnamomi isolates in vitro for tolerance to phosphite
- In planta screening of isolates for tolerance to phosphite and implications with respect to variations between isolates in their pathogenicity and phosphite tolerance, and long-term phosphite use
- Determination of the minimum concentrations of phosphite required in roots to protect them from infection and colonisation by cinnamomi
- Other Phytophthora and Phytopythium species and their pathogenicity to avocado
Microbial profiling of soils with selected amendments shown to suppress Phytophthora cinnamomi in avocado, Treena Burgess, Murdoch University (30 minutes)
Approaches to eradication of Phytophthora from a site, Bill Dunstan, Murdoch University (30 minutes)
Six spotted mite, Alison Mathews, DPIRD (20 minutes)
Suggested ways forward to manage Phytophthora root rot in avocado for the future, Treena Burgess, Murdoch University (10-15 minutes)
Open discussion
The Improving avocado orchard productivity through disease management (AV16007) project has been funded by Hort Innovation, using the avocado research and development levy and contributions from the Australian Government.
