Clubroot – Nursery Cleaning

Clubroot is the most serious soilborne disease affecting brassicas world wide and is caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae Woronin.

Clubroot is endemic in most Australian production regions with crop losses between 5 and 10%.

Ensure equipment is clean

FACT 
High pressure washing is the most effective way to
clean equipment that may harbour the clubroot fungus

Nursery Hygiene :

• Do not rely on disinfection and/or sterilisation alone.
    Always high pressure wash reusable plastic seedling trays and equipment before sanitising.

• Do not assume that clubroot can be eliminated by briefly rising, dipping or spraying trays and equipment.
• Check regularly to ensure that sterilising equipment is working properly, maintain 70°C for 20 mins.
• Pack trays loosely to allow penetration of steam or sanitiser solution.
• Disinfectants should be prepared strictly as directed.
    Ensure equipment soaks in solution for the recommended period of time.
    Replace the solution regularly according to manufacturers instructions.

• Seedling benches should be washed down and sanitised before use.

See Also :

Caroline Donald – DPI Victoria (this site)

Acknowlegements:
Financial support for this research has been provided by: Horticulture Australia Limited, the vegetable growers R&D levy and State Departments of Agriculture.

Thanks to the following growers for their assistance with trial work:

Thanks to the following for their technical assistance on the project:

Statistical advice by Fiona Thomson and Nam Ky Nguyen (Department of Primary Industries, Vic).