Increasing yield in commercial Eucalyptus globulus plantations by chemical control of pests and pathogens -trial results at age three years

Neumeister-Kemp, H.G., Collins, S.L., Hardy, G.E.St.J. and Dell, B. (2003) Increasing yield in commercial Eucalyptus globulus plantations by chemical control of pests and pathogens -trial results at age three years. In: 8th International Congress of Plant Pathology: Solving problems in the real world, (ICPP 2003), 2 - 7 February, Christchurch; New Zealand.

Abstract

In southwestern Australia, young Eucalyptus globulus plantations are being impacted on by foliar-feeding insects and fungal pathogens. Exclusion trials were established in 2000 on 0.5-yearMold trees to assess the efficacy of chemical control on problem insects and the fungal disease Mycosphaerella leaf blight (MLB) and on plantation yield at harvest ( l 0 years). Four treatments (250 trees/treatment in 5 replicate blocks) were established: unsprayed control, sprayed with fungicide, sprayed with insecticide, and sprayed with a combination of fungicide and insecticide. The treatments were applied according to the optimal growing periods of the pathogens and pests. Leaf damage from insects and pathogens was assessed four times a year using a validated rating system. Tree height and diameter is monitored annually. The results so far show that the spray regime has reduced the incidence of NILB and insect grazing. Furthermore, the insecticidealone reduced MLB, and the fungicide alone reduced the impact of insects. Trees in the sprayed treatments are now growing faster than the unsprayed trees.

Item Type:	Conference Item
Murdoch Affiliation(s):	School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology
Publisher:	Horticulture Australia
URI:	http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/18023

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