Clubroot – Nursery Contamination

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%.

Keep seed, water and media
free of clubroot

FACT
Clubroot disease is not seedborne, but may occur as a contaminant

on the outside of seeds that have been in contact with soil containing clubroot


Authors

Caroline Donald

Ian Porter

Josie Lawrence

Barbara Czernaikowski

Rachel Lancaster

Dean Metcalf

Leigh James

Peter Stephens

Shane Dullahide

Clubroot Factsheet
Download 309kb

Keeping seed, water and media clean :

  • Obtain seeds from a reputable source and immediately reseal packets or tins of seed after use to avoid contamination.
  • Dam water, particularly dams receiving run off from affected paddocks, is likely to contain spores of clubroot.
    Use town or clean deep bore water to irrigate nursery stock.

  • Ensure that any dams are located well away from clubroot infected areas.
  • Ensure that media is stored in covered bins or bags off the ground and is protected from dust and other likely source of contamination.

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:

Con Ballan Geoff Cochrane Anthony Mason
David Milburn George Sabo Tony Wright
Sam Calameri Tom Winfield Andrew Doran
Mark Kable Kevin Temple Rod
Sherriff
Michael Camenzuli WU Yue Fang, ZHONE Cai Xia
Ha Sau Ying XIANG Cai Ji Robert Quirks
Dario Semenzin Harslett farms Greg Widderick

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

Josie Lawrence Barbara
Czernaikowski
David Tooke Lisa Gibson
Jenny McGough Christina Bakker
Chang You Pan Kevin Lai
Alison Anderson Glenn Geitz
R. Palmer Kathy
McLachan
David Richard Duncan Cameron
C. Haase  

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


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