Control of TuMV, CaMV and BWYV
- Plant healthy brassica seedling transplants.
- Destroy all old crops promptly once finished, as old plants are potent sources of infection for spread to non-infected crops.
- Avoid planting brassica crops sequentially in close proximity.
- Sow non-host barrier crops — cereal perimeter surrounding the brassica crop.
- Rotate brassica crops with non-host crops — tomato, celery — to help break the disease cycle.
- Manipulate planting dates to avoid exposing vulnerable young plants at times of year when peak aphid populations develop.
- Remove all weeds and volunteer crop plants in and around crops that might harbour aphids and virus.
- Remove plants with virus symptoms within the crop as these are an infection source.
- Have a brassica free growing period to break the infection cycle by removing the host for aphids.
For TuMV only
- Use varieties with resistance to TuMV if available. Resistant Chinese cabbage varieties are commercially available.
For BWYV only
- Apply registered ‘new chemistry’ insecticides as required to control green peach aphids. Insecticides from different chemical groups should be used to prevent the aphids becoming resistant.
Important note: Spraying insecticides to control TuMV and CaMV is not a good management technique because insecticides do not act fast enough to prevent the rapid spread of these viruses by aphids.
Always read the label
Users of agricultural or veterinary chemical products must always read the label and any permit before using the product, and strictly comply with the directions on the label and the conditions of any permit. Users are not absolved from compliance with the directions on the label or the conditions of the permit by reason of any statement made or not made in this web page.
Acknowledgement
Figures 1 and 2 were supplied by Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
Figure 3 was supplied by South Australian Research and Development Institute.
This information is based on earlier DAFWA and Horticulture Innovation Australia (HIA) supported research and extension conducted by Lindrea Latham and Roger Jones.