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

  • Plant with purple stems and dark green leaves covered with a bright yellow powder-like fungus.

    Myrtle rust: Biosecurity alert

    8 April 2014

    Myrtle rust is a serious disease that infects and kills many plants belonging to the Myrtaceae family including eucalypts, bottlebrushes, paperbarks and peppermint trees.

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    Pest and Disease Information Service (PaDIS)

    15 October 2013

    The Pest and Disease Information Service (PaDIS) provides advisory and identification services on animal and plant pests, weeds and diseases that impact Western Australia's agriculture and food ind

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    Blueberry rust

    12 November 2014

    Blueberry rust is a fungal disease that affects blueberries and some relatives in the Ericaceae plant family. The disease was detected in Western Australia in April 2022.

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    Potato Virus Y tuber necrosis strain: declared pest

    4 April 2019

    Potato virus Y tuber necrosis strain (PVYNTN) causes a serious disease of potatoes called potato tuber necrotic ringspot disease which results in dark unsightly rings on tubers.

  • Fruit symptoms of dry rot. Photo courtesy of Dr Roger Shivas, DPIF 2005.

    Dry rot of citrus: pest data sheet

    29 May 2014

    Dry rot (Eremothecium coryli) is an exotic pest to Western Australia.

  • Fruit symptoms of dry rot. Photo courtesy of Dr Roger Shivas, DPIF 2005.

    Dry rot of citrus: declared pest

    29 May 2014

    Dry rot (Eremothecium coryli) is a serious pest of citrus that can affect fruit palatability and citrus rootstock seed production. This pest is not known to occur in Western Australia.

  • Leaf symptoms of Little cherry disease

    Little cherry disease: pest data sheet

    10 February 2014

    Ampelovirus Little cherry virus 2 (LChV-2) is one cause of little cherry disease (LCD) and is an exotic pest to Western Australia.

  • Alternaria blight on waxflower

    Foliar diseases of waxflower

    9 January 2014

    Waxflower is susceptible to a range of foliar diseases. The main problems which occur in commercial plantations and their control are outlined here.

  • Cultivar Lambert cherries with Little cherry disease symptoms (left) and healthy fruit (right)

    Little cherry disease: declared pest

    7 February 2014

    Little cherry disease [Ampelovirus Little cherry virus 2 (LChV-2)] is a serious pest of cherries that can affect fruit development and quality.

  • 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.

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