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
Understanding the evolution of fungicide resistance for durable control of fungal pathogens in pyrethrum. The pyrethrum plant is grown for the extraction of natural insecticidal pyrethrins used in a variety of pest control products. Australia supplies 60 per cent of the global market for natural pyrethrins. Fungal pathogens of pyrethrum can cause severe losses. This project will investigate fungicide resistance in these pathogens at the molecular level.