Diseases

Diseases have a detrimental effect on plants and animals and impact on market access and agricultural production. Diseases include micro-organisms, disease agents (bacteria, fungi and viruses), infectious agents, parasites and genetic disorders.

Western Australia is free from some of the world's major agricultural and livestock diseases. Biosecurity measures on your property are vital in preventing the spread of diseases.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development provides:

  • biosecurity/quarantine measures at the WA border to prevent the entry of plant and animal diseases
  • post border biosecurity measures for harmful animal and plant diseases
  • advice on widespread diseases present in the state.

For advice on animal and plant diseases search our website, the Western Australian Organism List or contact our Pest and Disease Information Service (PaDIS).

For diagnostic services, please contact our Diagnostic Laboratory Services.

See Also

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Articles

  • In severe cases whole plants develop white heads after flowering.

    Diagnosing crown rot of cereals

    4 December 2013

    A fungal disease most common in continuous cereal crops, which affects roots and lower stems and is usually not detected until after heading.

  • Small, dark, irregular flecks on older leaves

    Diagnosing blackspot in field peas

    23 April 2015

    Blackspot is the most widespread and destructive disease of field peas in Western Australia.

  • A young banana plant with yellowing leaves, a symptom of Panama disease.

    Panama disease: initiation of policy review

    13 January 2016

    The Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia has initiated a policy review for Panama disease associated with host material and linked packaging imported from other Australian states a

  • Cultivar Lambert cherries with Little cherry disease symptoms (left) and healthy fruit (right)

    Little cherry disease: declared pest

    7 February 2014

    Little cherry disease [Ampelovirus Little cherry virus 2 (LChV-2)] is a serious pest of cherries that can affect fruit development and quality.

  • Six potatoes of the White Star variety

    Ware potatoes: initiation of policy review

    5 January 2016

    The Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia has initiated a policy review of the importation of washed ware potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) from other Australian states and terr

  • Oat leaves displaying water soaked appearance with red-brown longitudinal stripes typical of stripe blight

    Diagnosing stripe blight in oats

    22 June 2015

    There are two types of bacterial disease which infect oat foliage; halo (Pseudomonas syringae pv. coronafaciens) and stripe (Pseudomonas syringae pv. striafaciens) blight.

  • Straw or brown colour spots surrounded by a yellow water-soaked halo than may resemble septoria

    Diagnosing halo blight in oats

    19 June 2015

    There are two types of bacterial disease which infect oat foliage; halo blight (Pseudomonas syringae pv. coronafaciens) and stripe blight (Pseudomonas syringae pv.

  • Fluffy, white powdery growths of fungal spores on leaf surface

    Diagnosing powdery mildew in cereals

    4 December 2013

    Powdery mildew is a fungal leaf disease that reduces yield and grain quality in susceptible varieties.

  • First signs are dark spots with yellow edges

    Diagnosing spot type net blotch

    21 January 2014

    Spot-type net blotch is a stubble-borne fungal foliar disease occurring more frequently in the medium and high rainfall areas of the West Australian (WA) wheatbelt.

  • Cabbage showing necrotic flecks and patches characteristic of turnip mosaic virus

    Virus diseases of vegetable brassica crops

    16 July 2014

    Turnip mosaic virus, cauliflower mosaic virus and beet western yellows virus occasionally cause significant economic loss in vegetable brassica crops such as cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, Chinese

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