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.

Articles

Seed dressing and in-furrow fungicides for cereals in Western Australia

20 November 2013

Seed dressing and in-furrow fungicides contain active ingredients for the control or suppression of seed-borne diseases, some fungal foliar diseases and some fungal root rots in cereal crops.
Registered foliar fungicides for cereals in Western Australia

19 November 2013

Which foliar fungicide active ingredients are registered for which cereal diseases in WA?
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,
Managing yellow spot and septoria nodorum blotch in wheat

5 December 2013

Leaf spot diseases affecting wheat in Western Australia are septoria nodorum blotch, yellow spot and septoria tritici blotch.
Smut and bunt diseases of cereal - biology, identification and management

13 December 2012

Cereal smut and bunt diseases are caused by fungi which parasitise the host plant and produce masses of soot-like spores in the leaves, grains or ears.
Managing stripe rust and leaf rust in wheat in Western Australia

13 December 2012

Stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici) and leaf rust (Puccinia triticina) can be a significant threat to wheat crops in Western Australia in some seasons.
Fungicides for managing powdery mildew in wheat historical trial report

3 November 2016

Powdery mildew has become more prevalent in WA wheat crops over the past few years, particularly late in seasons.
Implications of the known wheat leaf rust pathotypes in WA

12 November 2013

This page provides information about known wheat leaf rust pathotypes in Western Australia (WA), including most recent incursions in 2013 and 2015.
Are early fungicide applications effective for yellow spot and septoria nodorum blotch in the low rainfall zone 2014 trial report

26 September 2014

Previous research in high rainfall zones or above average seasons has shown that in cases where leaf spot disease levels are high very early, fungicide application at or before first node (Z31) is
Foliar fungicide application timing for managing leaf rust in wheat, Mingenew 2016 trial report

9 May 2017

This trial assessed potential efficacy and benefits from various timings of fungicide application for managing powdery mildew, leaf rust and leaf spot diseases in wheat.