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

Psa of kiwifruit: Declared pest

27 June 2019

Psa (Pseudomonas syringae pv.
Banana freckle: biosecurity alert

18 October 2013

Banana freckle was detected in Dwarf Cavendish banana fruit in the Northern Territory in May 2022. The Northern Territory Government is responding to this new detection.
Papaya sticky disease: biosecurity alert

16 August 2019

Papaya sticky disease is absent from Western Australia. It has recently been reported from the Northern Territory, after being detected in Queensland in 2014.
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.
Panama disease in bananas: frequently asked questions

3 April 2015

Panama disease Tropical Race 4 (TR4) is considered one of the most destructive diseases of banana plants worldwide.
Panama disease: declared pest

5 March 2015

Panama disease Tropical Race 4 (TR4) is considered one of the most destructive diseases of banana plants worldwide. It is caused by the soil-borne fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp.
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
Dry rot of citrus: pest data sheet

29 May 2014

Dry rot (Eremothecium coryli) is an exotic pest to Western Australia.
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.
Pink disease of citrus: pest data sheet

1 May 2014

Pink disease (Erythricium salmonicolor) is an exotic pest to Western Australia. It is a serious disease of citrus than can result in yield losses due to limb and tree death.