Diseases

Diseases have a detrimental effect on plants and animals and impact on market access and agricultural production. Diseases include micro-organisms, disease agents (bacteria, fungi and viruses), infectious agents, parasites and genetic disorders.

Western Australia is free from some of the world's major agricultural and livestock diseases. Biosecurity measures on your property are vital in preventing the spread of diseases.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development provides:

  • biosecurity/quarantine measures at the WA border to prevent the entry of plant and animal diseases
  • post border biosecurity measures for harmful animal and plant diseases
  • advice on widespread diseases present in the state.

For advice on animal and plant diseases search our website, the Western Australian Organism List or contact our Pest and Disease Information Service (PaDIS).

For diagnostic services, please contact our Diagnostic Laboratory Services.

See Also

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Articles

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    Psa of kiwifruit: Declared pest

    27 June 2019

    Psa (Pseudomonas syringae pv.

  • Crown rot in wheat appears as scattered white heads

    Crop diseases: forecasts and management

    11 December 2013

    Information is provided here to assist management of diseases and viruses that occur in broadacre crops grown in Western Australia - cereals (wheat, barley, oats and triticale), pulses (field pea,

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    Bacterial wilt of potato: declared pest

    29 March 2019

    Bacterial wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum) is a serious disease of potatoes that can cause crop losses of more than 90%.

  • Zebra chip affected potato plant

    Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum: pest data sheet

    8 May 2017

    Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum is an exotic pest to Australia. It can affect both solanaceous and apiaceous crops.

  • Broccoli head ready for harvest. It is about 15 centimeters in diameter and is a compact circular dome in shape.

    Diseases of vegetable brassicas

    28 October 2013

    Broccoli, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts are members of the brassica family.

  • Banner - infected fruit and leaves against citrus plantation

    Citrus canker Western Australia

    30 April 2018

    The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development has taken action to protect Western Australia’s citrus growers from the threat of citrus canker following confirmation that the disease

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    Biosecurity alert: Dickeya dianthicola

    10 July 2017

    Dickeya dianthicola is a serious bacterium that can cause tuber soft rot and blackleg in potatoes, and can also affect some ornamental varieties, chicory and artichoke.

  • Bin of potatoes which have broken down and rotted after harvest

    Soft rot diseases of potatoes

    21 November 2013

    Soft rot can cause heavy losses in stored potatoes if not properly managed, creating a perception of poor quality in export seed potato markets.

  • Straw or brown colour spots surrounded by a yellow water-soaked halo than may resemble septoria

    Diagnosing halo blight in oats

    19 June 2015

    There are two types of bacterial disease which infect oat foliage; halo blight (Pseudomonas syringae pv. coronafaciens) and stripe blight (Pseudomonas syringae pv.

  • Leaf spots that turn yellowish and later brown and papery

    Diagnosing bacterial blight in field peas

    23 April 2015

    Bacterial Blight (Pseudomonas syringae pv.pisi) is rarely seen in Western Australia.

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