P LANT P ROTECTION THE AUTHOR’S AIM in this series of books is to provide users with the systematic understanding of Plant Protection and Plant Management required of modern horticulture. The books are used to teach Plant Protection throughout Australia and as a reference by people working in the horticulture industry. PLANT RUTH KERRUISH’S interest in diseases and pests of plants commenced with her post-graduate studies at the University of Western Australia. She later worked as a researcher with CSIRO (Forest Products, Melbourne and Plant Industry, Canberra) and taught Plant Protection in 4 the Department of Horticulture in the Canberra Institute of Technology. ROTECTION How to Diagnose Plant Problems P 4 ADRIENNE WALKINGTON trained in architectural drafting in Adelaide and in Horticulture in Canberra where she worked as a technician in the Department of Horticulture in the Canberra Institute of Technology. How to Diagnose Plant Problems PLANT PROTECTION SERIES: 1. Pests, Diseases and Weeds 2. Methods of Control 3. Selected Ornamentals, Fruit and Vegetables Ruth M. Kerruish 4. How to Diagnose Plant Problems ISBN 1-875907-03-3 ROOTROT PRESS drawings by 22 Lynch Street, Hughes, Canberra, ACT, Australia 2605 ROOTROT (02) 6281 3650 Fax (02) 6285 1657 PRESS Ruth M. Kerruish Adrienne L. Walkington ISBN 1-875907-03-3 PLANT PROTECTION SERIES PLANT PROTECTION 1 Pests, Diseases and Weeds. Pests and Diseases • Insects and allied pests • Snails and slugs • Vertebrate pests • Nematode diseases • Virus and virus-like diseases • Bacterial diseases • Fungal diseases • Parasitic flowering plants • Non-parasitic problems Weeds PLANT PROTECTION 2 Methods of control. • Cultural methods • Sanitation • Biological control • Resistant varieties • Plant quarantine • Disease-tested planting material • Physical and mechanical methods • Pesticides • Plant Management • IPM (Integrated Pest Management) • Organic standards, • BMP (Best Management Practice) PLANT PROTECTION 3 Selected Ornamentals, Fruit and Vegetables. • Annual and herbaceous perennials • Bromeliads • Bulbs, corms, rhizomes and tubers • Cacti, ferns • Fruit and nuts • Orchids, palms, roses • Trees, shrubs and climbers • Turf grasses • Vegetables • Also Australian native plants, Bonsai, Compost, Containers, Garden centres, Greenhouses, Herbs, House plants, Hydroponic systems, Interior landscapes, Manure, Mulches, Nurseries, Plant tissue culture, Postharvest, Potting mixes, Seedlings, Seeds, Soil, Urban bushland, Urban landscapes, Water, Water plants, Xeriscapes. PLANT PROTECTION 4 How to Diagnose Plant Problems. • Step 1. The client’s enquiry • Step 2. Identify affected plant • Step 3. Examine plant parts for signs and symptoms • Step 4. Visit site, history, questions • Step 5. Consult references • Step 6. Seek expert help • Step 7. Report the diagnosis PLANT PROTECTION 4 How to Diagnose Plant Problems Ruth M. Kerruish with original line drawings by Adrienne L. Walkington ROOTROT PRESS ACT COPYRIGHT Copyright for material in this book is held by the authors, illustrators and third parties who have made photographs, drawings and product labels available for educational purposes only. Trademarks used in this book to describe firms or their products are trademarks of those firms or the registered proprietor of the trademark and are therefore also protected by copyright. Other material on this website is available for personal use. Copyright©2006 Ruth M. Kerruish Copyright©2006 Adrienne L. Walkington Copyright©Canberra Institute of Technology Copyright©NSW Department of Industry and Investment Copyright©State of Victoria. Department of Sustainability and Environment Copyright©Forestry Tasmania Copyright©Western Australian Agriculture Authority 2009 Copyright©Yates Copyright©Ampol Rural Copyright©D.Olsen DISTRIBUTED BY: Qld Textbook Warehouse PO Box 3220, Brackenridge, Qld, Australia 4017 07 3261 1300 Fax 07 3261 1966 email: [email protected] web: www.qtw.com.au/ PUBLISHED BY RootRot Press - ACT 22 Lynch Street, Hughes, ACT, Australia 2605 02 6281 3650 Fax 02 6285 1657 ISBN 1 875907 03 3 (print) National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry: Kerruish, Ruth M. (Ruth MacNeil), 1936- . Plant protection. 4, How to diagnose plant problems. Bibliography. Includes index. 1. Plant diseases - Diagnosis - Australia. 2. Garden pests - Australia. 3. Horticulture - Australia. 4. Plants, Protection of - Australia. I. Walkington, Adrienne L. II. Title. 632.90994 ISBN 978-1-875907-04-5 (online) By the same author: PLANT PROTECTION 1 : Pests, Diseases and Weeds (with Phillip Unger) PLANT PROTECTION 2 : Methods of Control PLANT PROTECTION 3 : Selected Ornamentals, Fruit and Vegetables ii DISCLAIMER This book is a guide only to the process of diagnosing plant problems. While the information in this book is believed to be accurate at the time of publication, the author and publisher make no warranties, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy, adequacy or currency of the information presented in this book. The material contained in this book is not intended to provide specific advice. No reader should act on the basis of anything contained in this book without taking appropriate advice on their own particular circumstances. It should be recognized that there are differences in soils, climates and seasonal conditions, and that pests, diseases and weeds do not occur uniformly across Australia and may spread to new regions within Australia. New pests, diseases and weeds may enter Australia. Advisors and growers will need to adapt information to suit their particular conditions, regions and situations. Reference to a product or a particular brand of product in this publication (whether the reference appears in an illustration, photograph or in any other form) does not imply the author’s or publisher’s approval or endorsement of the product or the brand. Similarly, by the omission of certain trade names and some formulated products, either unintentionally or from lack of space, the author or the publisher is not inferring that these products or brands are not approved. By allowing the use of their product labels and other material, companies do not imply that they are endorsing the contents of the publication. Although efforts are made to have up-to-date material, labels change, and with time the labels in this publication may not be the current version. The author and publisher do not guarantee the current status of registered uses of any of the pesticides or other products mentioned as these are constantly changing. Users must comply with current pesticide legislation and follow instructions on currently registered labels attached to the container. If information in this book conflicts with that on a current label, follow label instructions. Websites referred to, or activated in this book are not under the control of the author or publisher who accept no responsibility or liability in relation to their content. iii PESTICIDE REGISTRATION, ORGANIC STANDARDS PESTICIDE REGISTRATION Registration of pesticides in Australia is the responsibility of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA). APVMA assesses and registers these chemicals to ensure that they perform as claimed and are safe for people, animals and the land. APVMA also issues permits for off-label uses. Check on the APVMA database that the chemicals you use are registered for use: www.apvma.gov.au and follow the links to PUBCRIS (the Public Chemical Registration Information System). Many registered products are not available for home garden use. ORGANIC STANDARDS AS 6000—2009. Organic and Biodynamic Products (Standards Australia) outlines minimum requirements to be met by growers and manufacturers wishing to label their products ‘organic’ or ‘biodynamic’ within Australia. Organic Federation of Australia (OFA) is the peak body for the organic industry in Australia www.ofa.org.au and follow the links to obtain the domestic and export organic standards and certifiers. Biological Farmers of Australia (BFA) www.bfa.com.au NASAA Certified Organic www.nasaa.com.au Organic Growers of Australia (OGA) www.organicgrowers.org.au/ iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors would like to express their appreciation of the many people, organizations and companies, whose contributions have made this book possible: Advice, encouragement Bill Kerruish Adrienne Walkington Horticultural assistance Douglas Kerruish, Kerruish Horticultural Services, ACT. Phillip Unger, Canberra Institute of Technology, ACT. Paul Weiss, Canberra Institute of Technology, ACT. Robyn Morgan, Canberra Institute of Technology, ACT. Identifying insects Kim Pullen, Entomology, CSIRO, Melbourne. Identifying plants Roger Spencer, Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne. Computing assistance John Kerruish, Cisco Systems, Sydney. Stefan Alexander, Pirion Digital, ACT. Editing Chris McKenna, formerly Australian Catholic University, ACT. Erika Kerruish, Southern Cross University, Lismore. Bill Kerruish, formerly Forestry, CSIRO, ACT. Library assistance Diana Kirby, Canberra Institute of Technology, ACT. Canberra Institute of Drawings, diagrams, charts and photographs are Technology reproduced with permission of the Canberra Institute of Technical Education for educational purposes only Drawings, diagrams, A detailed list of the individuals, organizations and photographs and labels companies who have given permission to reproduce reproduced for the material for educational purposes only is on the educational purposes following page. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS (contd) The following drawings, diagrams,