Abstract
[Truncated abstract] One of the traditional principles of disease management is avoidance of the pathogen. This study was planned to investigate the parameters that could be used to develop strategies for avoiding Stemphylium grey leaf spot (GLS) disease of narrow-leafed lupins (NLL) in Western Australia (WA). To achieve this objective, the project was divided into four different components.
Firstly, surveys of WA lupin growing regions were carried out over three years to ascertain the presence and distribution of virulent strains of the pathogen in the field. Secondly, the impact of virulent strains of the pathogen on grain yield of NLL was assessed. These two components were planned to investigate the importance of the disease to the Western Australian NLL crop in terms of distribution and potential impact on production. The third component focused on the environmental requirements of the disease. Temperature and moisture requirements for optimum growth of the pathogen and for establishment of infection were studied in vitro. These optimum requirements were then tested in a glasshouse under controlled conditions. During the fourth component, ability of the pathogen to infect other plants commonly found in WA and its persistence on the infested trash and infected seed was investigated to determine the survival strategy of the pathogen. Finally, a predictive risk model was developed for WA based on the available information.
Firstly, surveys of WA lupin growing regions were carried out over three years to ascertain the presence and distribution of virulent strains of the pathogen in the field. Secondly, the impact of virulent strains of the pathogen on grain yield of NLL was assessed. These two components were planned to investigate the importance of the disease to the Western Australian NLL crop in terms of distribution and potential impact on production. The third component focused on the environmental requirements of the disease. Temperature and moisture requirements for optimum growth of the pathogen and for establishment of infection were studied in vitro. These optimum requirements were then tested in a glasshouse under controlled conditions. During the fourth component, ability of the pathogen to infect other plants commonly found in WA and its persistence on the infested trash and infected seed was investigated to determine the survival strategy of the pathogen. Finally, a predictive risk model was developed for WA based on the available information.
| Original language | English |
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| Qualification | Doctor of Philosophy |
| Publication status | Unpublished - 2014 |