Pest, disease and weed management

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://elibrary2.sugarresearch.com.au/handle/11079/13843

Research outcomes: A comprehensive RD&E program that addresses existing and emerging pests, diseases and weeds, allowing sugarcane growers to manage their crops efficiently with minimal environmental impacts. An enhanced industry capacity to deal with incursions of exotic pests, diseases and weeds.

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1995 - 199912000 - 20034

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Subject: search.filters.subject.Integrated pest management

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Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
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    Environmental factors affecting Adelina in the Burdekin region : final report CE004
    (BSES, 2003) Dall, D; Logan, D
    The project aimed to determine why the canegrub pathogen Adelina does not infect a significant proportion of the canegrub population in the Burdekin Delta area. It examined the effect of physical characteristics of soil (pH, sodicity and composition) and three other environmental parameters (temperature, relative humidity and compaction) on retention of oocyst infectivity for larvae over periods corresponding to one and two cycles of grub infestation of crops in the field. In addition, the project raced the establishment and persistence of Adelina infection in two experimentally inoculated field plots in the Burdekin canegrowing area. A ‘sentinel larva’-based bioassay that allows examination of the effect of various environmental factors on the retention of infectivity of Adelina was developed. Results of such a bioaasay showed no differences between the three types of soils tested, despite one soil coming from a region where the pathogen is very common (Bambaroo), and another from a region where it is quite rare (Burdekin Delta). The test did clearly show that drying conditions can be highly detrimental to retention of infectivity of the pathogen. Extrapolation from these results would suggest that field locations where there are prolonged periods of dry soil conditions would be at a relative disadvantage as regards maintenance of high levels of the pathogen in grub populations. Under field conditions in the Burdekin, Adelina did survive at levels sufficient to cause infection in the following generation of canegrubs in some areas and in one of two years; in the other plots and year, there was no subsequent infection. These results thus show that while oocysts of protozoan pathogens such as Adelina have robust external walls, they are, nevertheless, susceptible to the influence of adverse environmental conditions. Under field conditions, where exposure to any potential inoculum is likely to be more transient, the influence of an adverse environmental factor is even more acute. Improved understanding of the physical tolerances of the infective stages of Adelina has assisted in the design of crop-management strategies that maximise the impact of the pathogen on canegrub populations. These strategies have been incorporated into the GrubPlan program that has been successful in reducing the impact of greyback canegrub.
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    Enhanced adoption of integrated pest management in sugarcane : SRDC final report BSS225
    (BSES, 2002) Hunt, WD; Samson, PR
    The project focused on changing the way BSES engages clients in dealing with pest management issues, using the concept of participatory action-learning. Thirty-two small groups of canegrowers were formed around eight pest types. In addition, three major extension campaigns were delivered on the sugar industry?s two most damaging pests, greyback canegrubs and cane rats. A roadshow integrated pest management (IPM) program on rats that was run in central and northern areas in 1999 contacted 480 growers. The wider-reaching initiative Rat Attack trained 2,700 growers in a program to raise awareness and understanding of rodent IPM in late 2000. The greyback canegrub program GrubPlan trained 906 growers and rural industry staff through 70 IPM workshops in late 2001. Training was an interactive process based on developing understanding and skills, leading to a change in practices. Results have been rewarding. Following the rat programs, damage to cane was reduced by around 21% (98,000 t) in 2000 and 58% (273,000 t) in 2001, in comparison with 1999. The GrubPlan program is also reaping dividends with around 60% of growers implementing 80% or more of the management plans they developed in the series. Visible damage to cane from greyback has subsequently declined, which will be confirmed by estimates of crop losses at the end of 2002. The project has been able to mitigate pest impact through achieving learnings with clients. It has also assisted extension and research staff to operate more effectively using good meeting process and extension planning, and has served to standardise IPM programs in industry.
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    An integrated pest management approach for the control of sugarcane weevil borer, Rhabdoscelus obscurus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)
    (BSES, 2000) Garrad, S; Sallam, M; Oehlschlager, A
    Treatments with Regent alone and in combination with pheromone trapping of sugarcane weevil borers were assessed in field trials in the Mulgrave area. Results suggest that the combination of insecticidal treatment with pheromone trapping reduce the number of stalks infested as well as number of damage internodes. Rat infestation, however, was an important factor influencing the degree of infestation and biased our results. Weevil borer control can only be efficiently achieved in an Integrated Pest Management approach is implemented taking into consideration other control options. More work is needed to investigate the usefulness of chemical treatment against weevil borers and the economic return following application.
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    Integrated pest management of soldier fly : SRDC final report BSS160
    (BSES, 2001) Samson, PR
    Soldier flies are a serious soil-dwelling pest of cane, and there is no insecticidal control available. In large-plot trials, numbers of soldier fly larvae in plant and first ratoon crops were lower after a long fallow, with old crops destroyed early in the harvest season and new crops planted late the following year, than after a short fallow with late crop destruction and early planting. This difference was not maintained in older ratoons in the trials, but that may not be so if long fallowing was implemented on a larger scale. Two long fallowing methods, either using herbicide to kill old crops and weeds or growing soybeans, were at least as effective as bare fallowing with frequent cultivation, the previously recommended cultural control procedure for the pest. These methods are now recommended for soldier fly management. Various other procedures were tested for killing soldier fly larvae in fallows ? rotary hoeing, application of a biocide (metam-sodium), combination of a systemic pesticide (carbofuran) with a lure crop (sorghum), and growing brassica break crops ? but these either did not control soldier flies or failed for other reasons. The annual addition of organic matter to crops as either a green-cane trash blanket or mill mud did not change the soldier fly status of fields within a crop cycle. Long fallowing by appropriate means is the best way of minimising the risk of damaging soldier fly populations in young ratoon crops, although at the cost of reduced plant crop yields due to a shortened growing period.
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    Integration of klerat rodenticide into the IPM program for rodent control in sugarcane : SRDC final report BS78S
    (BSES, 1995) Story, PG
    The second-generation antocoagulant rodenticde Klerat (0.005% w/w brodifacoum) was evaluated for inclusion in the integrated pest management (IPM) program for rodent control in Queensland sugarcane. IPM for Rattus sordidus is sugarcane relies on habitat manipulation techniques such as in-crop weed control and revegetation of noncrop refuges and requires the application of an efficacious rodenticide if high population densities are predicted. The commencement of the rodent breeding cycle was identified as the optimum rodenticide application time. The combined effect of time of baiting and in-crop weed control was evaluated. While bait applications in weed control can reduce R. sordidus populations, successful crop damage reduction will only be achieved by widespread adoption of IPM strategies that minimise rodent invasion of crops as well as reducing breeding.