Pests, weeds & diseases

Pests, weeds and diseases pose a serious risk for primary producers as they can impact on market access and agricultural production.

To reduce the impact of pests, weeds and diseases, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development:

  • works with landholders, grower groups, community groups and biosecurity groups.
  • provides diagnostic services and information on prevention, management and treatment.
  • provides biosecurity and quarantine measures to prevent introduction, and to eradicate or manage current pests.

For advice on pests, weeds and 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

  • Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) is a declared pest in Western Australia. It can significantly reduce crop yields in potatoes and tomatoes.

  • Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) is a very damaging virus disease of tomato crops in tropical and warm temperate regions of the world, causing losses of up to 100%.

  • 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.

  • Potato virus Y (PVY) is an aphid-borne virus that causes yield losses and tuber quality defects in commercial potato crops.

  • Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) is an aphid-borne virus that infects a wide range of plant species including vegetable crops and weeds.  In Western Australia CMV infection in capsicum causes yield and

  • Carrot virus Y has been found in carrot crops throughout Australia.

  • Turnip mosaic virus, cauliflower mosaic virus and beet western yellows virus occasionally cause significant economic loss in vegetable brassica crops such as cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, Chinese