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Biological control potential of Trichoderma species and bacterial antagonists against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum on canola in Western Australia
No full textFifteen fungal and three bacterial biological control agents (F-BCA and B-BCA, respectively) were isolated from the canola production areas of Western Australia to investigate their potential for controlling sclerotinia stem rot (SSR) caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum under in vitro and field conditions. The capacity of these isolates to inhibit mycelial growth and sclerotia formation by S. sclerotiorum was assessed in dual culture tests in Petri dishes. Using Sanger Sequencing of the ITS regions, the F-BCAs were identified as Trichoderma atroviride (four isolates), T. gamsii (three isolates), T. koningiopsis (two isolates), T. longibrachiatum (two isolates), T. paraviridescens (two isolates), T. pseudokoningii (one isolate) and T. viridescens (one isolate). Four of the seven Trichoderma species (T. koningiopsis, T. gamsii, T. atroviride and T. viridescens) are reported for the first time from Western Australia. 16S rRNA sequencing identified B-BCA1 and B-BCA2 as Serratia proteamaculans and B-BCA3 as Ochrobactrum anthropi. There were significant differences among F-BCAs (P≤0.001) in their effect on radial mycelial growth (40–60% inhibition) and sclerotia formation (65–100% inhibition). Two isolates of T. atroviride (F-BCA12 and F-BCA15) completely blocked sclerotial formation of the pathogen on Potato dextrose agar + 10 ppm/L Aureomycin (PDAA). Incubation of sclerotia in soil inoculated with F-BCA indicated that sclerotia were colonized by the conidia of each F-BCA, and all sclerotia in the presence of F-BCAs failed to germinate on PDAA. The B-BCAs reduced radial mycelial growth by 57–59% and formation of sclerotia by 89–95%. Selected isolates of F-BCAs (T. koningiopsis and T. atroviride) and B-BCAs (O. anthropi and S. proteamaculans) significantly reduced disease incidence of S. sclerotiorum under glasshouse and field conditions. Field efficacy of tested BCAs was similar or better than the commercial fungicide Prosaro
Soil amelioration techniques: How they affect weed dynamics and weed seed burial
No full textSoil amelioration has gained great interest in the Western Australia grain-belt over the past decades including incorporating lime, burying repellent soils or disrupting compacted soil. However, relatively little is known about its impact on weeds or the weed seed bank. A series of field and screen house trials were designed to understand better how soil amelioration techniques alter weed dynamics. Results from these trials suggest that the impact of amelioration on weeds varies with the type of mechanical amelioration treatment, proportion of topsoil disturbance and weed seed burial. We found that soil inversion was highly effective in reducing weed density (by 90-100% compared to control) while deep ripping stimulated weed emergence. Moreover, emergence of buried seeds collected from varying soil depths indicated that deep mixing by a rotary spader distributed weed seeds throughout the soil profile, whereas soil inversion by a mouldboard plough buried most weed seed at 10-20 cm. This research gives us a good insight of weeds’ response to soil amelioration and aid in formulating better weed management strategies following amelioration
Emissions baseline report for the agriculture sector in Western Australia
No full textThe Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Sixth Assessment Report found that climate impacts are appearing earlier and are more severe than expected. The world faces multiple unavoidable climate hazards over the next two decades with global warming of 1.5ºC and accelerated action is required to avoid mortality and loss of biodiversity and infrastructure.
Achieving Climate Resilience requires both climate adaptation and mitigation of Greenhouse Gases which are accelerating climate change. Western Australia is committed to building resilience of the agriculture industry and as part of that is focussed on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at both an industry and government level.
As part of this challenge the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is working with industry and stakeholder groups to develop emissions reduction solutions for the WA agriculture sector. Engagement has commenced across the livestock, grains, horticulture, rangelands and intensive livestock industries. Detailed analysis and scenario modelling will be undertaken to develop practical and effective abatement options, including shared transition pathways.
Greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) are calculated at a national/state level and at an enterprise/product level using different approaches.
Australia’s state and national emissions are calculated using a set of rules outlined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). These state and national emissions are reported through the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory (NGHGI), which is used to report our emissions to the world and compare global emissions on a country-by-country basis.
Industry and farm businesses can measure emissions at a product or farm/enterprise level using life cycle analysis (LCA) or farm business/enterprise carbon accounts. Product-level analyses generate emission intensities for specific products (e.g., emissions per unit of milk, meat, wool). Carbon accounts quantify the total emissions generated at a farm business/enterprise level and for each product produced by the business. LCAs and farm carbon accounts include both on-farm emissions and emissions that occur pre-farmgate (from purchased inputs such as fertiliser etc). They can also include carbon sequestration activities.
Unlike LCAs and farm carbon accounts, NGHGI reporting for the Agriculture sector does not include emissions generated during the manufacture and transport of agricultural inputs – such as fertilisers, herbicides, pesticides and agricultural machinery. Instead, these emissions are captured in the NGHGI Energy sector reporting. Also, any changes in on-farm carbon stocks from tree planting/harvest or soil carbon fluxes are accounted for in the Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector rather than the Agriculture sector (Table 5).
This report is broken into two parts:
1. A summary of GHG emissions as reported by the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory (NGHGI)
2. A summary of industry generated carbon accounts using life cycle analysis (LCA) or farm business/enterprise carbon accounts
to generate a baseline of GHG emissions for the WA agriculture sector and for each industry represented within the sector
Managing non-mulesed sheep
No full textThe Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) has been involved in a variety of research projects to help producers manage non mulesed sheep. Research has shown that it is possible to successfully manage non-mulesed sheep with little extra time or cost
Fisheries science update - Shark depredation - April 2022
No full textRecreational, charter and commercial fishers in Western Australia (WA) are reporting significant increases in shark depredation (bite-offs), particularly in the Gascoyne and Pilbara regions.
Shark depredation is an issue across Northern Australia, with similar reports in Queensland and the Northern Territory. Managing shark depredation is complex, and WA is leading the country in research to better inform our management decisions.
Recent research by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s (DPIRD) has found that: a range of shark species are responsible for bite-offs, including blacktip, dusky, milk, pigeye, sandbar and tiger sharks; the probability of sharks taking fish is reduced by 65 per cent when using deterrents; sharks arrive within 15-30 minutes of fishing commencing, so moving spots helps decrease shark bite-offs; and depredation rates are higher in areas where more people are fishing, for example, close to boat ramps
Using dietary additives to improve palatability of diets containing single‐cell protein from methanotrophic bacteria in yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi) diets
No full textSingle-cell protein (SCP) derived from methanotrophic bacteria has significant potential as a fishmeal alternative in aquafeeds. However, SCP has known palatability issues, to overcome these issues tuna hydrolysate and garlic powder were tested as palatability enhancers against basal diets without these additives. This study tested the inclusion of SCP at four dietary levels of 0%, 10%, 20% and 30%, representing 0%, 25%, 50% and 75% fishmeal replacement in juvenile yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi) (YTK) diets. YTK were fed these diets in triplicate over 35 days. Compared with the control diet, fish fed the SCP10% diet ate less feed, but had equal growth and subsequently an improved FCR. Feed intake decreased with increasing SCP inclusion, and the palatability enhancers were ineffective at improving intake. Despite the significant reduction in feed intake, FCR was equal across all SCP inclusion levels, demonstrating that the reduced growth performance at these higher inclusion levels was a function of only the reduced intake. Data showing equal protein retention efficiency and apparent digestibility coefficients across diets support this finding. This study showed that SCP derived from methanotrophic bacteria can replace 25% of fishmeal in a 400 g/kg FM diet and suggests if palatability issues can be overcome then higher inclusion of SCP could be achieved in YTK diets
PestFacts WA Issue 02 - April 2022
No full textPestFacts WA Issue 02 - April 2022 contents: Identifying and managing weevils in canola Redlegged earth mites are hatching and resistance testing is available soon Do you want to host a Fall armyworm trap this season? Meet PestFacts WA team lead and editor – Cindy Websterhttps://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/fc_pestfactswa/1033/thumbnail.jp
PestFacts WA Issue 08 - July 2022
No full textPestFacts WA Issue 08 - July 2022 contents: Cold winter conditions are reducing winged aphid activity Russian wheat aphid UCI BlacklegCM – A new decision support tool for upper canopy blackleg managementhttps://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/fc_pestfactswa/1038/thumbnail.jp
Allium cepa - environmental weed risk assessment 2022
No full textIntroducing new plants to an area may have both positive and negative effects on the environment, economy and community. To minimise the negative environmental impact of introducing new agricultural species, DPIRD conducts a risk assessment procedure based on widely accepted scientific standards. This report assesses Allium cepa. Onions are a root vegetable which are widely cultivated around the world. A. cepa is only known from cultivation, however onions are part of the Allium genus which contains over 300 species
Cenchrus setiger - environmental weed risk assessment 2022
No full textIntroducing new plants to an area may have both positive and negative effects on the environment, economy and community. To minimise the negative environmental impact of introducing new agricultural species, DPIRD conducts a risk assessment procedure based on widely accepted scientific standards. This report assesses Birdwood grass (Cenchrus setiger). Birdwood grass (Cenchrus setiger) is native to north Africa, India and Middle east. It arrived in Western Australia (WA) when seed was sent from India in the 1920s by Field Marshal Lord Birdwood to his son-in-law, a grazier, in northern WA (Petheram and Kok 1991). It is a tufted, perennial bunch grass with vegetative growth 30−60cm high and purplish or brownish seed heads with short stiff bristles which form a spike-like inflorescence to 9cm long (Petheram and Kok 1991; Cook et al. 2020). Birdwood grass is adapted to arid and semi-arid climates (annual rainfall (125‒) 400‒750 (‒1,250) mm with a long dry season and responds quickly to light rains when temperatures are adequate for growth (Cook et al. 2020)