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

Previous Pause Next

Articles

  • Dark brown spots that elongate and produce dark brown net-type streaks

    Diagnosing net type net blotch

    21 January 2014

    Net-type net blotch is a stubble-borne fungal foliar disease occurring more frequently in the medium and high rainfall areas of the WA wheatbelt. It can reduce grain yield and quality.

  • Roots stunted, short and stubby with few laterals.

    Diagnosing pythium root rot in cereals

    4 December 2013

    A widespread fungal root disease that attacks seedlings but which rarely causes large yield losses.

     

  • Yellow stripes that turn brown and eventually die.

    Diagnosing barley stripe

    20 January 2014

    A very rare fungal disease that is most often found in irrigated barley.

     

  • Bleached often diamond shaped lesions with dark brown edge

    Diagnosing barley scald

    21 January 2014

    A stubble and seed-borne fungal foliar disease occurring more frequently in high rainfall cooler areas that can cause grain yield losses up to 45% and reduce grain quality.

  • Severe powdery mildew infection on strawberry

    Powdery mildew of strawberries

    13 January 2014

    Powdery mildew is a disease which is becoming more prevalent in Western Australian strawberry crops as increasing areas are being grown under high (Haygrove) tunnels.

  • Typical symptoms of Fusarium crown rot in strawberry

    Crown and root rot diseases of strawberries

    13 January 2014

    Strawberries are affected by a number of pathogens causing crown and/or root rots.  These diseases are becoming more prevalent for several reasons including the withdrawal of methyl bromide as a so

  • Banksia speciosa later confirmed as infected with Phytophthora cinnamomi

    Phytophthora diseases of cutflowers

    8 January 2014

    Phytophthora root rot is the most common soil-borne disease causing plant death in native cutflower production.

  • Septoria spot on external orange fruit surface showing characteristic small spots

    Septoria spot of citrus: declared pest

    28 November 2013

    Septoria spot (Septoria citri) is a serious pest of citrus that can affect external fruit quality. This pest is not known to occur in Western Australia.

  • Bowl full of single flowers in shades of red, mid pink and light pink with a darker eye.

    Downy mildew of impatiens

    30 April 2014

    Downy mildew is caused by a fungus which has been affecting impatiens in Western Australia since 2007 after being found in Victoria the previous year.

Pages

Filter by search

Filter by topic