In this inquiry report, the Committee recommends that the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry review its food import risk frameworks to ensure that they are fit for purpose and that decisions under the frameworks are accelerated where required.

Vanilla was first introduced to French Polynesia in 1848 and from 1899-1966 was a major export for French Polynesia who then produced an average of 158 tonnes of cured Vanilla tahitensis beans annually. In 1967, vanilla production declined rapidly to a low of 0.6 tonnes...

The Victorian Pulse Disease Guide provides information on disease management and the disease resistant ratings for pulse crops.

Beet western yellows virus (BWYV) has an extremely wide host range and is distributed worldwide. Hosts include temperate pulses (chickpea, faba bean, lentil, field pea and vetch), pasture legumes (clover, medics and lucerne), canola and many perennial weeds. BWYV is transmitted persistently by a large...

Many important diseases of pulses can be seed-borne. Pulse growers can minimize losses from these diseases by using high quality seed. Seed testing is required to establish whether seed is infected. Seed health tests are currently available to detect the most important seed-borne pathogens of...

There have been two introductions of wheat stripe rust into Australia. These introductions may have entered Australia on clothing. The first introduction occurred in Victoria in 1979, and stripe rust rapidly spread across eastern Australia. This original rust mutated, and a number of pathotypes (also...

Septoria tritici blotch (STB) is an important stubble borne foliar disease of wheat in Victoria, Australia. This disease has increased in importance in the high rainfall cropping regions during the last five years, even though it has been well controlled in Victoria for the last...

Scald is a common foliar disease in Victorian barley crops as the majority of current varieties are susceptible. Scald severity varies greatly from crop to crop depending on variety resistance, paddock history and local climate. Scald is more likely to be a problem when a...

Stem rust is an occasional, but devastating disease of wheat. Epidemics occur when there is a carry over of stem rust from the previous season, susceptible varieties of wheat are grown, and warm humid conditions in the spring encourage disease development.

Variety selection and robust disease management plans are critical to minimising the impact of diseases in cereal crops. The Victorian Cereal Disease Guide provides the latest information on disease management and the disease resistant ratings for cereal crops.

Armillaria root rot, also known as the honey toadstool or bootlace fungus, is a widespread and often destructive disease that can affect an extremely wide range of plants. Overseas, the disease is reported to be caused by Armillaria mellea. In Australia, however, a related indigenous...

Endophytes are fungi that live within healthy plant tissue, relying on it for protection, nutrition and dispersal. Usually they do not cause any disease symptoms but can be detected by examining plant sections with a microscope or by laboratory tests.

Target spot, or early blight is one of the most common diseases attacking leaves and stems of potatoes. It usually spreads during autumn and is welcomed by some growers as a haulm killer. It can, however, cause losses if outbreaks occur early in the season...

Over 16 virus and virus-like diseases have been reported to infect chrysanthemums. Fortunately not all of these occur in Australia. Four of these are considered to be economically important in Australia.