Category: Virus

Symptoms:

The symptoms found on an infected plant will vary with the genus, species, cultivars and growth stages of the plant, and the strain of the virus.

In cucurbits, symptoms described range from light yellow green spots, vein clearing and crumpling on young leaves, to chlorotic mottling, leaf deformation, plant stunting, bleaching of mature leaves and necrosis at later stages of growth. Symptoms on fruit can include fruit abortion, fruit malformation, fruit drop, uneven ripening, internal yellowing, breakdown and discoloration of the flesh.

In cucumber, fruit become soft and has a reduced shelf life, slightly reduced size and overall reduced yield.

Other mosaic diseases, caused by potyviruses, can cause similar symptoms. This makes the disease difficult to identify by symptoms alone and laboratory tests are necessary to confirm infection.    More

Lisa Bassington and Patrick Noonan – Hort Masterclass Graduates.

There is still time to apply for the 2019 Masterclass in Horticultural Business. Scholarship applications will now close Monday, 19 November.

General applications to participate in the course are due Monday, 10 December 2018.

Described as a mini-MBA, the Masterclass runs for 10-months and provides a comprehensive, affordable and accessible program for those looking to accelerate their horticultural career.

This year, the nursery industry has several scholarships on offer; each valued at $10,000 to cover tuition costs.

Why apply?

We’re on the brink of a green era, so we need to make sure we are propelling the careers of our future industry leaders, to facilitate this growth. Nursery employers and employees that have a passion for building their skills and the industry’s capacity are strongly encouraged to apply!

Don’t miss your chance – apply today at: http://www.utas.edu.au/tia/study/masterclass-in-horticultural-business/apply-now

More

Plant Life Balance (PLB) is the national consumer marketing campaign within the 202020 Vision Program, for the Australian nursery industry. Since its inception, PLB has aimed to raise awareness about the benefits of plants and to deliver a return on investment to levy payers by boosting the demand for green life.

As part of the campaign, an augmented reality greening app was developed for consumers – including the most novice of plant owners – to drive engagement online and across retailers. The mission was to widely spread the wellbeing benefits of ‘going green’, and to show how plants improve our surrounds. More

Project Overview

First detected in 2015, the vegetable leafminer (Liriomyza sativae) is a pest capable of infesting a variety of horticultural crops in Australia. The fly inhibits plant growth by laying eggs inside plant leaves and stems, while maggots tunnel within and create tracks or mines which get bigger as they grow.

The industry impact of the vegetable leafminer can be significant; reducing the plant’s market value, and creating stricter import and domestic trade restrictions in areas of Australia where the pest is absent.

Since 2017, an RD&E program for the control, eradication and preparedness of vegetable leafminer has been funded by Hort Innovation using vegetable and nursery industry levies, with funds from the Australian Government. Run in conjunction with research provider, Cesar, the project aims to prepare for, and protect against, the spread of the pest throughout Australia’s key growing regions. More

Name: Chestnut blight, Cryphonectria parasitica

Symptoms:

The fungus enters wounds, grows in and under the bark, and eventually kills the cambium all the way around the trunk, branch or twig. Sunken cankers form and the bark may crack. There may be trunk and branch swelling and resin exudate. A canker may expand around the circumference of the trunk or branch resulting in wilting and eventual death of the tree or branch above the canker. Orange fruiting bodies (stroma) of the fungus are produced on canker margins. Conidiomata and later ascoma (perithecia) form in the stroma producing conidia and ascospores. More