JUST as in human health, the plant breeding sector says preparedness for novel disease is critical in ensuring the grains industry can handle any unexpected disease incursions.
A researcher from The University of Western Australia's Institute of Agriculture has led a comprehensive review of virus disease research in Australia's cereal and oilseed crops since the 1950s and has some sobering news for the Aussie grains industry.
UWA adjunct professor Roger Jones said Aussie ag needed to prepare for 'potentially devastating' future virus disease epidemics.
In recent years, plant viruses such as beet western yellows virus, now known as turnip yellows virus, which hit canola hard in 2014, have caused widespread yield loss for some croppers.
Prof Jones said crop viruses could cause damage not only to yield but also to crop quality.
He said these virus-induced crop losses ranged from minor to complete crop failure and were increasing in magnitude.
"A comprehensive review of the biology, epidemiology and management of damaging virus diseases of these critically important crops was therefore both overdue and timely," he said.
All 31 viruses known to infect the diverse range of cereal and oilseed crops grown in the continent's temperate, Mediterranean, subtropical and tropical cropping regions were included in the review.
Seven of these viruses are currently of major economic importance.
The source of the viruses was also looked at, and there is a common culprit.
Depending on the virus concerned and climatic conditions, the most important virus vectors that spread each of the 31 viruses were aphids, whiteflies, thrips, leafhoppers or mites.
Looking into the future Prof Jones said the management of both the viruses and their vectors was complicated by a changing climate.
"Climate change, induced climate instability and extreme weather events have altered virus epidemiology and vector distributions and decreased the effectiveness of virus and vector control measures," he said.
"Effective virus management is being influenced by increased insecticide resistance in key insect and mite vectors, the development of resistance-breaking virus strains, and insufficient industry awareness of virus diseases.
"Further even more damaging crop viruses and more-efficient virus vector species are also likely to spread to Australia from other world regions."
Professor Jones said there was a pressing need for more research funding and other resources to focus on addressing virus disease threats to Australia's grains industries.
"The review recommends that future research into virus diseases in Australian cereal and oilseed crops should be adequately resourced to ensure they are protected," he said.
Professor Jones co-authored the review with Dr Benjamin Congdon from the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Dr Murray Sharman from the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, and Drs Piotr Trebicki and Solomon Maina of Agriculture Victoria, Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions.
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Gregor Heard
Gregor Heard is ACM's national grains industry reporter, based in Horsham, Victoria. He has a wealth of knowledge surrounding the cropping sector through his 15 years in the role. Prior to that he was with the Fairfax network as a reporter with Stock & Land. Some of the major issues he has reported on during his time with the company include the deregulation of the export wheat market, the introduction of genetically modified crops and the fight to protect growers better from grain trader insolvencies. Still involved with the family farm he is passionate about rural Australia and its people and hopes to use his role to act as an advocate for those involved in the grain sector.
Gregor Heard is ACM's national grains industry reporter, based in Horsham, Victoria. He has a wealth of knowledge surrounding the cropping sector through his 15 years in the role. Prior to that he was with the Fairfax network as a reporter with Stock & Land. Some of the major issues he has reported on during his time with the company include the deregulation of the export wheat market, the introduction of genetically modified crops and the fight to protect growers better from grain trader insolvencies. Still involved with the family farm he is passionate about rural Australia and its people and hopes to use his role to act as an advocate for those involved in the grain sector.
