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Control of phytoplasma diseases of papaya in Australia using netting
journal contribution
posted on 2017-12-06, 00:00 authored by Kerry WalshKerry Walsh, Jodie GuthrieJodie Guthrie, Daniel WhiteDaniel WhiteThree types of netting material (coarse, medium and fine mesh) were evaluated for exclusion of insects and thus control of phytoplasma diseases (especially dieback disease) of papaya. Disease incidence and yield parameters were recorded for a population of papaya plants grown inside netted enclosures, each 20 m long by 12 m wide by 5 m high, containing 78 planting positions. A further population of non-netted plants was treated with a systemic insecticide (imidacloprid). Six percent of control plants and insecticide-treated plants died with dieback symptoms. No plants under fine or medium mesh net were affected by dieback, but one plant under the coarse mesh net developed symptoms. The incidence of other disease and damage (e.g. yellow crinkle disease, fruit spotting bug damage) was also decreased in netted plants. However, pollination was poor under netting, with individual fruit weight and total harvested fruit weight reduced to ~50% of that of the control. Fruit sweetness (total soluble solids) was not affected. Management issues and cost-effectiveness of using netting as a control strategy are discussed. It is concluded that netting is not a commercially viable strategy with current production and marketing methods, although it could be used as part of a higher value, more intensive production system
Funding
Category 1 - Australian Competitive Grants (this includes ARC, NHMRC)
History
Volume
35Issue
1Start Page
49End Page
54Number of Pages
6ISSN
0815-3191Location
Collingwood, VictoriaPublisher
CSIRO PublishingPublisher DOI
Language
en-ausPeer Reviewed
- Yes
Open Access
- No
External Author Affiliations
Primary Industries Research Centre; TBA Research Institute;Era Eligible
- Yes