Reducing aphid and virus risk
Published: 16 Feb 2015
Early management decisions are key to reducing aphid and virus risk in 2015
Significant rain over much of the southern cropping zone and parts of Western Australia during January 2015 has produced a green bridge (a between-season host for pests and diseases) that includes volunteer canola, wild radish, wild turnip and marshmallow.
These weeds and volunteers can host large populations of insects, including aphids, as well as viruses, and need to be destroyed prior to sowing.
Key Points:
- Destroy the green bridge over summer and autumn prior to sowing.
- Do not sow canola into desiccating weeds/canola volunteers; otherwise, aphids will move directly from the weeds to the emerging seedlings.
- Monitor green peach aphid (GPA) populations on weeds, volunteers and seedling canola crops.
- Use seed treated with a neonicotinoid insecticide and ensure proper application and coverage of seed dressing for efficacy against GPA.
- Ensure correct identification of GPA before applying insecticides to protect seedling canola.
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GRDC Project Code SBM00003
Region South
Region: South
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