VG00044 Clubroot – Strategic application

Clubroot is the most serious soilborne disease affecting brassicas world wide.

Clubroot is caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae Woronin, an obligate biotrophic parasite.

Australian crop losses are estimated at between 5 and 10% of production.

Clubroot is endemic in most of the major production regions of Victoria, New South Wales and
Tasmania.

FACT :  Strategic application targets disease in the plant root zone

Chemical application may be necessary on high risk soils to achieve adequate control of clubroot.

The benefits

• Efficacy of some products is increased with distribution at the root zone
• Cost is reduced as less than a third of the broadcast area is treated
• Targets the root zone where protection is needed
• Distributes treatments evenly to the transplant root zone
• Saves time as treatment and transplanting can be simultaneous provided the treatments used do not pose a health risk to the operators
• Suits a range of soil types and liquid or granule application.

Existing machinery can be adapted. Reduces run off and phytotoxicity.

Treatment and planting can be done in a single tractor pass for non- hazardous products such as calcium nitrate.

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