Compost extract: a new paradigm for disease management in sustainable horticulture. There is significant legislative and consumer pressure worldwide to reduce the amount of pesticide applied to food crops. Compost extract is a watery extract of mature compost that when applied to a crop canopy allows simultaneous suppression of a broad range of plant diseases while maintaining biodiversity in an agricultural ecosystem. This technology represents a paradigm shift from the monoculture approach o ....Compost extract: a new paradigm for disease management in sustainable horticulture. There is significant legislative and consumer pressure worldwide to reduce the amount of pesticide applied to food crops. Compost extract is a watery extract of mature compost that when applied to a crop canopy allows simultaneous suppression of a broad range of plant diseases while maintaining biodiversity in an agricultural ecosystem. This technology represents a paradigm shift from the monoculture approach of single-target fungicides or biological control agents. Scientific evaluation has been hampered by a lack of standard production techniques. Our aim is to identify and characterise compost extract technology that produces known and consistently high levels of effectiveness and safety.Read moreRead less
Meeting the challenges of Sclerotinia crown rot in a perennial production system - pyrethrum. The Australian pyrethrum industry has undergone rapid growth in the last decade, which has seen it become the second largest producer of natural insecticidal pyrethrins in the world. Current production supplies 60% of the global market, with further expansion planned. Sclerotinia crown rot is a major disease that results in plant death; reducing yields and the life of the perennial crop. This project ....Meeting the challenges of Sclerotinia crown rot in a perennial production system - pyrethrum. The Australian pyrethrum industry has undergone rapid growth in the last decade, which has seen it become the second largest producer of natural insecticidal pyrethrins in the world. Current production supplies 60% of the global market, with further expansion planned. Sclerotinia crown rot is a major disease that results in plant death; reducing yields and the life of the perennial crop. This project aims to develop more cost effective and environmentally sustainable methods of managing this disease. This will help to ensure consistent supply of pyrethrin to the world market, reduce the costs of production and increase the net return to growers.Read moreRead less
Development of a risk management system for systemic downy mildew of poppies. Development of a risk management system for systemic downy mildew of poppies. This project aims to identify the critical inoculum sources of systemic downy mildew—a new disease threat to the Australian poppy industry, which produces over half the world’s medicinal opiates. It will assess these sources’ relative importance and interaction with agronomic site factors in epidemics; and also intends to understand the syste ....Development of a risk management system for systemic downy mildew of poppies. Development of a risk management system for systemic downy mildew of poppies. This project aims to identify the critical inoculum sources of systemic downy mildew—a new disease threat to the Australian poppy industry, which produces over half the world’s medicinal opiates. It will assess these sources’ relative importance and interaction with agronomic site factors in epidemics; and also intends to understand the systemic progression in planta, an area poorly understood in all downy mildew pathosystems. The project expects the data will form the basis of a disease risk index tool to educate growers and guide disease management strategies essential to this industry’s long term viability.Read moreRead less
Epidemiology of Phoma spp. complex and other foliar pathogens affecting pyrethrum. We will quantify the spectrum of fungal plant pathogens found on pyrethrum (Tanacetum cineariifolium L.) foliage and their relative impact on yield and pyrethrin assay. For those fungi having a significant impact on production (such as Phoma ligulicola) we will conduct detailed epidemiological studies to determine how disease levels change with environmental parameters and geographical factors. This study will a ....Epidemiology of Phoma spp. complex and other foliar pathogens affecting pyrethrum. We will quantify the spectrum of fungal plant pathogens found on pyrethrum (Tanacetum cineariifolium L.) foliage and their relative impact on yield and pyrethrin assay. For those fungi having a significant impact on production (such as Phoma ligulicola) we will conduct detailed epidemiological studies to determine how disease levels change with environmental parameters and geographical factors. This study will adapt radiometric technology for disease assessment in pyrethrum, and develop predictive models for disease development based on environmental conditions and furthermore, assess the effect of simulated climate change events on disease severity in the future.Read moreRead less
Towards a durable management strategy for ray blight in Tasmanian pyrethrum crops. This project will take a multi-factorial approach to the identification of edaphic factors and their collinearity for the prediction of foliar disease caused by the fungus, Phoma ligulicola in Tasmanian pyrethrum crops. This will allow implementation of a decision support system whereby disease management options may be weighed against site specific risk. Alternative management strategies to the current fungicid ....Towards a durable management strategy for ray blight in Tasmanian pyrethrum crops. This project will take a multi-factorial approach to the identification of edaphic factors and their collinearity for the prediction of foliar disease caused by the fungus, Phoma ligulicola in Tasmanian pyrethrum crops. This will allow implementation of a decision support system whereby disease management options may be weighed against site specific risk. Alternative management strategies to the current fungicide based system for control will also be assessed for their efficacy and role in mitigating site risk. The effect of cultural control methods such as cultivar mixtures and host resistance will be modelled on the spatio-temporal characteristics of the epidemic and compared to these in naturally occurring epidemics at specific sites.Read moreRead less
The role of phytotoxins in ray blight disease of pyrethrum and significance of toxin tolerance to disease resistance. Ray blight disease, caused by Phoma ligulicola, is the greatest threat to the Australian pyrethrum industry causing $2.0M in annual losses. We aim to clarify the pathology of P.ligulicola in pyrethrum, focussing on the role of fungal toxins during infection. Toxin importance in disease will be determined through histology and induction of toxin- pathogen mutants. Toxins will be ....The role of phytotoxins in ray blight disease of pyrethrum and significance of toxin tolerance to disease resistance. Ray blight disease, caused by Phoma ligulicola, is the greatest threat to the Australian pyrethrum industry causing $2.0M in annual losses. We aim to clarify the pathology of P.ligulicola in pyrethrum, focussing on the role of fungal toxins during infection. Toxin importance in disease will be determined through histology and induction of toxin- pathogen mutants. Toxins will be characterised and used in tissue culture to select obtain toxin tolerant pyrethrum clones that will be evaluated for agronomic performance and disease resistance. Successful development of resistant clones will decrease production costs, minimise risk of fungicide resistance development and reduce environmental pollution.Read moreRead less
Breeding for improved Australian hop varieties by induced mutations. Hop (Humulus lupulus) plants are vital to the brewing industry. Their main commercial products are alpha-acids and oils, which contribute to the bitter taste and aroma of beer. Hops possess different alpha-acids, including humulone (desirable) and cohumulone (non-desirable), and different oils, including humulene (desirable). Recently, beta-acids have been identified as useful compounds for emerging markets. Induced mutagen ....Breeding for improved Australian hop varieties by induced mutations. Hop (Humulus lupulus) plants are vital to the brewing industry. Their main commercial products are alpha-acids and oils, which contribute to the bitter taste and aroma of beer. Hops possess different alpha-acids, including humulone (desirable) and cohumulone (non-desirable), and different oils, including humulene (desirable). Recently, beta-acids have been identified as useful compounds for emerging markets. Induced mutagenesis will be used to alter the genetic make-up of hops, to obtain varieties with: (i) higher humulone; (ii) lower cohumulone; (iii) higher humulene; and (iv) higher beta-acids. This research will greatly assist the Australian hop industry by short-cutting traditional breeding performed by crossing.Read moreRead less
Integrated biological control of Sclerotinia minor root rot of pyrethrum crops. Tasmania is a major global supplier of natural pyrethrum, producing 25% of the world's requirements. However the industry has a major problem with Sclerotinia minor, current chemical treatment being expensive and providing limited effectiveness. The aim of this project is to develop long term integrated control measures for this disease, particularly by the application of biological control agents targeting S. minor ....Integrated biological control of Sclerotinia minor root rot of pyrethrum crops. Tasmania is a major global supplier of natural pyrethrum, producing 25% of the world's requirements. However the industry has a major problem with Sclerotinia minor, current chemical treatment being expensive and providing limited effectiveness. The aim of this project is to develop long term integrated control measures for this disease, particularly by the application of biological control agents targeting S. minor at planting. It will also examine possible break-crops biocidal to the fungus, and other integrated control measures. The significance/outcomes will be improved crop productivity to the industry, improved competitiveness with overseas producers and reduced dependence on chemical pesticides.Read moreRead less
Phytochemistry Of Thrips Resistance In Potato And Its Influence On Acquisition And Transmission Of Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus. TSWV causes multi-million dollar losses to the Australian potato industry, which is the countries largest and most valuable vegetable commodity and an important source of income and employment for rural communities. Development of TSWV epidemics relies on the activity of vector thrips acquiring virus from infected plants and transmitting it to healthy potatoes. Deployment ....Phytochemistry Of Thrips Resistance In Potato And Its Influence On Acquisition And Transmission Of Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus. TSWV causes multi-million dollar losses to the Australian potato industry, which is the countries largest and most valuable vegetable commodity and an important source of income and employment for rural communities. Development of TSWV epidemics relies on the activity of vector thrips acquiring virus from infected plants and transmitting it to healthy potatoes. Deployment of thrips resistant potato would greatly assist disease control. This project will determine the efficacy of thrips resistance in reducing TSWV epidemics and identify the chemical basis of resistance, which could be used as a screening tool for potato breeding, and could form the basis of a synthetic chemical tool for thrips prevention in potato and other crops.Read moreRead less
Hop (Humulus lupulus L.) flavoromics for distinctive beer. Hop is the spice of beer, as it provides unique flavour chemicals imparting taste (bitterness) and aroma. With the worldwide rise of craft beer, there is international demand for differentiated beer. The flavour potential of hop has not been fully explored, and the genetic basis of hop chemistry is poorly understood. This project aims to gather flavoromic data through modern analytical chemistry, genomics, molecular genetics and brewing ....Hop (Humulus lupulus L.) flavoromics for distinctive beer. Hop is the spice of beer, as it provides unique flavour chemicals imparting taste (bitterness) and aroma. With the worldwide rise of craft beer, there is international demand for differentiated beer. The flavour potential of hop has not been fully explored, and the genetic basis of hop chemistry is poorly understood. This project aims to gather flavoromic data through modern analytical chemistry, genomics, molecular genetics and brewing in order to better understand the genetic basis of hop chemistry which affects the entire value chain: from hop farm to consumers' experience of beer. The overarching aim of this project is to offer smart breeding strategies leading to novel flavours (taste and aroma) for existing and emerging breweries.Read moreRead less