Browsing by Author "Sallam, N"

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Barcoding a tool to assist the industry to manage insect incursions
(ASSCT, 2015) Braithwaite, K; Chandler, K; Sallam, N
THE AUSTRALIAN SUGARCANE industry has been fortunate not to have several significant insect pests that exist overseas. Moth borers are a particular concern to the Australian sugar industry due to the heavy losses they cause overseas and their potential to colonise new regions. Other high risk exotic pests include whiteflies, planthoppers and aphids. The biosecurity group in SRA is involved in many activities to prepare for possible incursions, including the development of diagnostic methods. Since the adult stage (which is required for correct taxonomic identification) may not be present in the early stage of an incursion, it is important to develop diagnostic techniques which apply to all insect stages or any available field material. The presence of frass may be the only indication that stalk damage is due to a moth borer. In such cases, identification can be greatly assisted by DNA-based techniques. For almost all animals, the universal barcode is the cytochrome oxidase I gene (COI), and this universality has led to the Barcode of Life, a project to promote DNA barcoding as a global standard for sequence-based identification. As several important exotic pests do not have publically available barcodes, SRA is assembling its own reference collection. Using the minor Australian sugarcane pest Bathytricha truncata as an experimental system, we attempted to develop methods to extract DNA and perform barcoding on frass. The method was then applied to detect three exotic borers in stalk material from PNG. Accurate detection of insect DNA from the complex stalk/frass environment is challenging, but can be achieved.
Biosecurity research in PNG 2015-2017
(ASSCT, 2018) Magarey, RC; Braithwaite, KS; Kuniata, LS; Thompson, NP; Korowi, K; Samson, PR; Tom, L; Sallam, N; Derby, L
PAPUA NEW GUINEA is the centre of diversity for several species in the genus Saccharum, including S. officinarum, selections of which constituted the first commercial sugarcane varieties in Australia. Apart from providing germplasm for commercial sugarcane production world-wide, PNG is also home to pests and diseases that pose a unique and serious threat to commercial sugarcane production in Australia. These include members of the noctuid moth borer group, an oomycete causing downy mildew and the viral disease, Ramu stunt. Australian scientists have been working alongside PNG counterparts to develop management strategies that will assist with pest and disease management in PNG and enable effective preparation for a possible incursion into Australia. Over the past three years, significant outputs from the research have included a much better understanding of causal agents, specific diagnostic tests, an understanding of pest and disease distribution and faster methods for varietal resistance screening.
Integrated pest management of stem borers and insect vectors of viral diseases of sugarcane : final report 2006/147
(BSES, 2009) Magarey, R; Sallam, N; Samson, P
This report provides detail on an ACIAR-funded project (HORT/2006/147) meeting between Australian and Indonesian staff to review project activities, and to plan further research, development and extension for the next 12 months. Rob Magarey also visited Jakarta to speak with ACIAR staff to keep them informed of project developments and outputs.
Mulgrave cane growers strategic grub management implementing BSES decision-making tools : SRDC Grower Group innovation project
(BSES, 2010) Sallam, N
Optimum canegrub management within new sustainable cropping systems : SRDC final report BSS266
(BSES, 2010) Samson, K; Chandler, K; Sallam, N
This project addressed the issue of canegrub management in new farming systems. Many cane growers are adopting or planning to adopt one or more components of 'new farming systems' - legume rotations, reduced tillage and controlled traffic - to improve the profitability and sustainability of their farms. Canegrubs can be a constraint on cane productivity in conventional systems if not managed appropriately. Changes to farming systems could have positive or negative impacts on canegrub populations and the damage they cause, and may require changes to management tactics.
Pests of Australian sugarcane field guide
(BSES, 2015) Samson, P; Sallam, N; Chandler, K
This guide has been designed for practical ‘in-field’ use and text has been kept to a minimum.
Preparing the Australian sugar industry for exotic disease threats: final report 2009/033
(Sugar Research Australia Limited, 2015) Magarey, R; Samson, P; Braithwaite, K; Thompson, N; Sallam, N
Previous field resistance trial data for downy mildew, Ramu stunt and Sesamia grisescens collected in PNG since the mid-1980s were accessed, analysed and information used as a foundation for project field resistance screening research. 2. Pot methods for moth borer resistance screening were reviewed, a visit to South Africa was made to view pot trial methodology and rapid test resistance screening research plans developed. 3. Field resistance screening trials for the moth borers (Sesamia grisescens and Scirpophaga excerptalis) and the diseases (downy mildew, (Peronosclerospora spp.) and Ramu stunt (tenuivirus)) showed promise in project research. Data collected has been analysed and resistance ratings for Australian commercial varieties assigned and loaded into SPIDNet. 4. A rapid resistance screen for the moth borers (manual infestation of test plants) and downy mildew (using oospores mixed into potting soil) show promise, but each method requires further refinement. 5. The causal agent of Ramu stunt was confirmed as a tenuivirus and a diagnostic assay validated. Suspect disease specimens can now be confidently assayed, should an Australian incursion occur. Some pathogen variation was noted around PNG; it is unknown if this will affect varietal resistance reactions. 6. Molecular tools for assaying for downy mildew were also developed; suspect disease specimens for DM can also now be confidently assayed. Significant DM pathogen variation in PNG was noted, with three taxa identified. One of these may be a new Peronosclerospora species. 7. The project has led to major steps forward in relation to knowledge of these pests and diseases. Our capacity to identify, manage and advise the Australian sugarcane industry with regard to PNG pests and diseases has improved greatly. The industry is now in a strong position to deal with the major pest and disease threats present in PNG.
Remote sensing to implement an effective pest management strategy for canegrubs
(Sugar Research Australia Limited, 2015) Sallam, N
a) Issue: The greyback canegrub (Dermolepida albohirtum) is the main pest of cane crops in all canegrowing regions from Mossman to Sarina. Infestations by this pest species may cost the industry up to 40 million dollars in years of high infestations. Other grub species also cause considerable damage in Southern Queensland. Canegrubs feed on the root mass of sugarcane plants reducing plant vigour and yield. Due to the annual life cycle of these pests, it is usually too late to apply pesticides to the crop by the time damage symptoms become apparent. In addition, grub numbers usually build up and initially remain unnoticed until an economical threshold is reached, at which time control measures become too costly or too late to implement. Hence, timely monitoring and early warning techniques need to be implemented to reduce the chances of pest outbreaks. Conventional field sampling is a time-consuming and strenuous task, hence, remote sensing/satellite imagery techniques may be implemented for timely damage detection and to provide advice to growers accordingly. Satellite images therefore were sourced for each participating region in the project (FNQ, Burdekin and Central district and Southern district). Geographic Object Based Image Analysis (GEOBIA) and the highly advanced “eCognition” software were used for image analysis. Based on the mapping results we then compiled grub damage risk maps which were communicated to growers. b) R&D Methodology: After a satellite image is taken for a region it is first pre-processed to correct for radiometric and geometric effects and then analyzed using GEOBIA to automatically identify areas with canegrub damage. We developed four key steps to conduct the analysis: (1) initial segmentation of block boundaries and further segmentation of each block into smaller homogenous objects; (2) classification and subsequent omission of fallow/harvested fields, tracks and other non-sugarcane features; (3) identification of potentially grub-damaged areas within each block with the lowest amounts of green leaves (low Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) values) and highest level of image texture and (4) further refining of ‘potentially’ grub damaged areas into low, medium or high likelihood of an area being affected. This is based on the absolute difference in the amount of green leaves (NDVI values) and texture between ‘potentially’ grub damaged areas and the remaining parts of each block. Areas suspected of sustaining grub damage based on the analysis are then visited for “ground-truthing”. A flight is also conducted to facilitate better examination of any apparent disorder. A ground-truthed map can then be produced and communicated to growers. False positives and false negatives are noted to further improve detection accuracy. We conducted several GrubPlan workshops across Queensland which were attended by growers, Productivity Service and mill staff members. The project has been very well received by the industry. c) The project deliverables We developed an eCognition rule set for classifying grub damage using satellite images. We also developed the capacity to produce accurate grub damage risk maps. Our validation work yielded overall damage detection accuracies of up to 90% or higher in several cases, however, this included a number of false positives resulting from sprawling, water logging, weed and pig damage. Our damage detection accuracy can only improve as more work is conducted and more data are fed to the model. The technology is now at a stage where it can be implemented by the industry. d) The outcomes and impact of the project findings on the sugar industry and the Australian community. The project addressed the “Pest, disease and weed management” key focus area, and we believe the following measures of success have been recognized: Industry supported through effective pest, disease and weed diagnostic capabilities and awareness and training programs. Development and adoption of SRA-developed packages for integrated management of key pests, diseases and weeds. Capability to provide entomology, pathology and weed expertise to meet the pest, disease and weed diagnostic and management needs of the industry. These criteria have been achieved through direct communication of results to Mulgrave, Burdekin, Mackay, Bundaberg and Isis industry members. We conducted several GrubPlan workshops in most areas where we communicated the results and distributed risk maps to growers and millers. During these workshops, Integrated Pest Management concepts were addressed as an all-encompassing approach to grub control and general crop health instead of only relying on pesticides. In addition, several other observations can be made via the use of a satellite image as general crop condition and potential yield could also be estimated. Currently the capacity of delivering a digital risk map to be accessed through Google Earth or the mill website is available. Most growers welcomed the information they received and expressed interest in maintaining this work. We have been in consultation with several canegrowers and Productivity Service staff across Queensland. Through these discussions, a clear image on the advisory service style required has emerged, and we are now able to produce accurate grub risk maps and provide advice on general crop condition to participating growers/mill regions according to their need. A subsequent “industry implementation” phase of the project is ready to be rolled out in certain regions where industry members are willing to support this work financially.
Sugarcane streak mosaic; researching a relatively new disease in Indonesia
(ASSCT, 2018) Magarey, RC; Kristini, A; Achadian, E; Thompson, N; Wilson, E; Reynolds, M; Sallam, N; Goebel, R; Putra, L
SUGARCANE STREAK MOSAIC occurs in the south and south-east Asia regions and was first identified in Indonesia in 2005. Its relatively recent recognition means that much remains to be learnt about this viral disease. ACIAR-funded research has been investigating molecular and serological assays for the virus, yield losses, important modes of transmission, and an integrated disease management strategy to manage and minimise losses. So far our findings include: molecular variation in the virus around its geographic range; yield losses amount to approximately 20% in a susceptible variety; transmission may occur via application of infested sap to leaves; mechanical transmission (as on infested machinery surfaces) is unlikely to be significant. Surveys have shown the disease to be present in various parts of Indonesia (Java, Sumatera, Sulawesi and probably West Papua). Much remains to be learnt about its epidemiology.