Academic literature on the topic 'Alfalfa Diseases and pests South Australia'

In 1991, a survey was distributed to 251 potato growers in South Australia to determine major diseases, insect and other invertebrate pests, and chemicals used to control them. The overall response rate was 48%, but of these, 24 individuals were no longer growing potatoes. The results were summarised for the State and by district (Adelaide Hills, Adelaide Plains, Murray Lands, South East). The most prevalent diseases encountered by respondents in all districts were target spot caused by Alternaria solani, and rhizoctonia canker caused by Rhizoctonia solani. Other diseases of concern to growers included late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans, seed piece decay caused by various pathogenic and saprophytic microorganisms, common scab caused by Streptomyces scabies, and leaf roll caused by potato leaf roll virus. The most commonly used fungicides for disease control were chlorothalonil (33-42% of respondents), mancozeb (30%), and cupric hydroxide (11-13%). The most commonly used seed treatments for control of seed piece decay were mancozeb (51 % of respondents), tolclofos methyl (24%), and lime (20%). Green peach aphid (Myzus persicae), potato aphid (Macrosiphum euphorbiae), potato moth (Phthorimaea operculella), and jassids and leafhoppers (Jassidae, Cicadellidae) were the pests of greatest concern to the growers. Others included Rutherglen bug (Nysius vinitor), redlegged earth mite (Halotydeus destructor), and thrips (Thripidae). The most commonly used insecticides were ethamidophos (40% of respondents), monocrotophos (22-28%), and dimethoate (7-13%).

This article reviews current knowledge for Australia over the occurrence, losses caused, epidemiology, and management of virus diseases of perennial pasture legumes. Currently, 24 viruses have been found infecting perennial pasture legumes, and one or more viruses have been detected in 21 of these species. These viruses are transmitted by insect vectors, non-persistently or persistently, by contact or via seed. Their modes of transmission are critical factors determining their incidences within pastures in different climatic zones. Large-scale national or state surveys of lucerne (alfalfa) (Medicago sativa) and white clover (Trifolium repens) pastures revealed that some viruses reach high incidences. Infection with Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV) was very widespread in lucerne stands, and with AMV and White clover mosaic virus (WClMV) in white clover pastures. Several other viruses are potentially important in pastures in these and other perennial temperate/Mediterranean pasture species. Data demonstrating herbage yield losses, diminished pasture persistence, and impaired nitrogen fixation/nodule function are available for AMV in lucerne, and AMV, WClMV, and Clover yellow vein virus in white clover. Integrated Disease Management approaches involving phytosanitary, cultural, chemical, and host resistance control measures are available to minimise virus infection in lucerne and white clover. Research on virus diseases of perennial tropical–subtropical pasture legumes has focussed almost entirely on virus identification, and information on their incidences in pastures, the losses they cause, and how to control them is lacking. Overall, viruses of perennial pasture legumes are least studied in South Australia and the Northern Territory. These and other critical research and development gaps that need addressing are identified.

Subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) is the most widely sown pasture legume in southern Australia and resistance to important diseases and pests has been a major plant-breeding objective. Kabatiella caulivora, the cause of clover scorch, is the most important foliar fungal pathogen, and several cultivars have been developed with resistance to both known races. Screening of advanced breeding lines has been conducted to prevent release of cultivars with high susceptibility to other important fungal foliar disease pathogens, including rust (Uromyces trifolii-repentis), powdery mildew (Oidium sp.), cercospora (Cercospora zebrina) and common leaf spot (Pseudopeziza trifolii). Several oomycete and fungal species cause root rots of subterranean clover, including Phytophthora clandestina, Pythium irregulare, Aphanomyces trifolii, Fusarium avenaceum and Rhizoctonia solani. Most breeding efforts have been devoted to resistance to P. clandestina, but the existence of different races has confounded selection. The most economically important virus diseases in subterranean clover pastures are Subterranean clover mottle virus and Bean yellow mosaic virus, while Subterranean clover stunt virus, Subterranean clover red leaf virus (local synonym for Soybean dwarf virus), Cucumber mosaic virus, Alfalfa mosaic virus, Clover yellow vein virus, Beet western yellows virus and Bean leaf roll virus also cause losses. Genotypic differences for resistance have been found to several of these fungal, oomycete and viral pathogens, highlighting the potential to develop cultivars with improved resistance. The most important pests of subterranean clover are redlegged earth mite (RLEM) (Halotydeus destructor), blue oat mite (Penthaleus major), blue-green aphid (Acyrthosiphon kondoi) and lucerne flea (Sminthurus viridis). New cultivars have been bred with increased RLEM cotyledon resistance, but limited selection has been conducted for resistance to other pests. Screening for disease and pest resistance has largely ceased, but recent molecular biology advances in subterranean clover provide a new platform for development of future cultivars with multiple resistances to important diseases and pests. However, this can only be realised if skills in pasture plant pathology, entomology, pre-breeding and plant breeding are maintained and adequately resourced. In particular, supporting phenotypic disease and pest resistance studies and understanding their significance is critical to enable molecular technology investments achieve practical outcomes and deliver subterranean clover cultivars with sufficient pathogen and pest resistance to ensure productive pastures across southern Australia.

European rabbits are exotic pests in Australia, New Zealand, parts of South America and Europe, and on many islands. Their abundance, and the damage they cause, might be reduced by the release of naturally occurring or genetically modified organisms (GMOs) that act as biological control agents (BCAs). Some promising pathogens and parasites of European rabbits and other lagomorphs are discussed, with special reference to those absent from Australia as an example of the range of necessary considerations in any given case. The possibility of introducing these already-known BCAs into areas where rabbits are pests warrants further investigation. The most cost-effective method for finding potentially useful but as-yet undiscovered BCAs would be to maintain a global watch on new diseases and pathologies in domestic rabbits. The absence of wild European rabbits from climatically suitable parts of North and South America and southern Africa may indicate the presence there of useful BCAs, although other explanations for their absence are possible. Until the non-target risks of deploying disseminating GMOs to control rabbits have been satisfactorily minimised, efforts to introduce BCAs into exotic rabbit populations should focus on naturally occurring organisms. The development of safe disseminating GMOs remains an important long-term goal, with the possible use of homing endonuclease genes warranting further investigation.

Fungicides and insecticides used at the recommended rate, and reduced recommended rates were applied at low volume (100 L ha-1) to apple trees in field experiments in South Australia from 1985 to 1988. At harvest the incidence of fruit damaged by fungi and insects was assessed on Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Jonathan and Granny Smith cultivars. Mixtures of penconazole and mancozeb applied at the recommended rates of 800 mL and 4.5 kg ha-1 respectively as well as 25% and 10% of the recommended rates controlled apple scab completely in 1986, but were less effective in 1987. Azinphos-methyl applied at the recommended rate of 2.7 kg and 25% of the recommended rate reduced codling moth infestation to commercially acceptable levels of <2 % on Red Delicious only in 1987. Considerable cost savings are possible by using low rates of pesticides. Our results suggest that the use of low rates is more applicable to low valued cultivars such as Jonathans and orchards with low levels of pest and disease.

Austropuccinia psidii (myrtle rust) is a globally invasive neotropical rust of the Myrtaceae that came into international prominence following extensive damage to exotic Eucalyptus plantations in Brazil in the 1970s and 1980s. In 2005, myrtle rust established in Hawaii (USA), and over the past 12 years has spread from the Americas into Asia, the Pacific, and South Africa. Myrtle rust was detected in Australia in 2010, and the response and ultimately unsuccessful eradication attempt was a lesson to those concerned about the threat of exotic pests and diseases to Australia's environment. Seven years following establishment, we are already observing the decline of many myrtaceous species and severe impacts to native plant communities. However, the recently developed Myrtle rust in Australia draft action plan identified that there is no nationally coordinated response strategy for the environmental dimensions of this threat. Recent reviews have identified a greater need for involvement from environmental agencies in biosecurity preparedness, response, and resourcing, and we believe this approach needs to extend to the management of invasive environmental pathogens once they establish.

Culicoides are one of the smallest hematophagous flies measuring 1–5 mm in size with only females seeking blood for egg development. The present study investigated spatio-temporal distribution of Culicoides species trapped between 1990 and 2018 at 13 sites in the New England region of NSW, Australia using automated light traps. Trapping locations were divided into three subregions (tablelands, slopes and plains). Nineteen Culicoides species were identified. Culicoides marksi and C. austropalpalis were the most abundant and widespread species. Culicoides brevitarsis, the principal vector of livestock diseases in New South Wales comprised 2.9% of the total catch and was detected in 12 of the 13 locations in the study. Abundance as determined by Log10 Culicoides count per trapping event for the eight most abundant species did not vary significantly with season but trended towards higher counts in summer for C. marksi (P = 0.09) and C. austropalpalis (P = 0.05). Significant geographic variation in abundance was observed for C. marksi, C. austropalpalis and C. dycei with counts decreasing with increasing altitude from the plains to the slopes and tablelands. Culicoides victoriae exhibited the reverse trend in abundance (P = 0.08). Greater abundance during the warmer seasons and at lower altitudes for C. marksi and C. austropalpalis was indicative of temperature and rainfall dependence in this region with moderate summer dominance in rainfall. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index of species was higher on the tablelands (H = 1.59) than the slopes (H = 1.33) and plains (H = 1.08) with evenness indices of 0.62, 0.46 and 0.39 respectively. Culicoides species on the tablelands were more diverse than on the slopes and plains where C. marksi and C. austropalpalis dominated. The temporal and spatial variation in abundance, diversity and evenness of species reported in this diverse region of Australia provides additional insight into Culicoides as pests and disease vectors and may contribute to future modelling studies.

Loss of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) from the pasture within several years of sowing is a common problem in the higher rainfall (550–750 mm annual rainfall), summer-dry regions of south-eastern Australia. This pasture grass came to Australia from northern Europe, where it mostly grows from spring to autumn under mild climatic conditions. In contrast, the summers are generally much drier and hotter in this region of south-eastern Australia. This ‘mismatch’ between genotype and environment may be the fundamental reason for the poor persistence. There is hope that the recently released cultivars, Fitzroy and Avalon, selected and developed from naturalised ryegrass pastures in south-eastern Australia for improved winter growth and persistence will improve the performance of perennial ryegrass in the region. Soon-to-be released cultivars, developed from Mediterranean germplasm, may also bridge the climatic gap between where perennial ryegrass originated and where it is grown in south-eastern Australia. Other factors that influence perennial ryegrass persistence and productivity can be managed to some extent by the landholder. Nutrient status of the soil is important since perennial ryegrass performance improves relative to many other pasture species with increasing nitrogen and phosphorus supply. It appears that high soil exchangeable aluminium levels are also reducing ryegrass performance in parts of the region. The use of lime may resolve problems with high aluminium levels. Weeds that compete with perennial ryegrass become prevalent where bare patches occur in the pasture; they have the opportunity to invade pastures at the opening rains each year. Maintaining some herbage cover over summer and autumn should reduce weed establishment. Diseases of ryegrass are best managed by using resistant cultivars. Insect pests may be best managed by understanding and monitoring their biology to ensure timely application of pesticides and by manipulating herbage mass to alter feed sources and habitat. Grazing management has potential to improve perennial ryegrass performance as frequency and intensity of defoliation affect dry matter production and have been linked to ryegrass persistence, particularly under moisture deficit and high temperature stress. There is some disagreement as to the merit of rotational stocking with sheep, since the results of grazing experiments vary markedly depending on the rotational strategy used, climate, timing of the opening rains, stock class and supplementary feeding policy. We conclude that flexibility of grazing management strategies is important. These strategies should be able to be varied during the year depending on climatic conditions, herbage mass, and plant physiology and stock requirements. Two grazing strategies that show potential are a short rest from grazing the pasture at the opening rains until the pasture has gained some leaf area, in years when the opening rains are late. The second strategy is to allow ryegrass to flower late in the season, preventing new vegetative growth, and perhaps allowing for tiller buds to be preserved in a dormant state over the summer. An extension of this strategy would be to delay grazing until after the ryegrass seed heads have matured and seed has shed from the inflorescences. This has the potential to increase ryegrass density in the following growing season from seedling recruitment. A number of research opportunities have been identified from this review for improving ryegrass persistence. One area would be to investigate the potential for using grazing management to allow late development of ryegrass seed heads to preserve tiller buds in a dormant state over the summer. Another option is to investigate the potential, and subsequently develop grazing procedures, to allow seed maturation and recruitment of ryegrass seedlings after the autumn rains.

Black spot disease on field pea (Pisum sativum) in Australia is generally caused by one or more of the four fungi: Mycosphaerella pinodes (anamorph Ascochyta pinodes), Phoma medicaginis var. pinodella (synonym Phoma pinodella), Ascochyta pisi, and Phoma koolunga (1,2,4). However, in 2010 from a field pea blackspot disease screening nursery at Medina, Western Australia, approximately 25% of isolates were a Phoma sp. that was morphologically different to Phoma spp. previously reported on field pea in Western Australia, while the remaining 75% of isolates were either M. pinodes or P. medicaginis var. pinodella. Single-spore isolations of 23 isolates of this Phoma sp. were made onto potato dextrose agar. A PCR-based assay with the TW81 and AB28 primers was used to amplify from the 3′ end of 16S rDNA, across ITS1, 5.8S rDNA, and ITS2 to the 5′ end of the 28S rDNA. The DNA products were sequenced and BLAST analyses were used to compare sequences with those in GenBank. In each case, the sequence had ≥99% nucleotide identity with the corresponding sequence in GenBank for P. herbarum. Isolates also showed morphological similarities to P. herbarum as described in other reports (e.g., 3). The relevant information for a representative isolate has been lodged in GenBank (Accession No. JN247437). The same primers were used by Davidson et al. (2) to identify P. koolunga, but none of our 23 isolates were P. koolunga. A conidial suspension of 107 conidia ml–1 from a single-spore culture was spray inoculated onto foliage of 10-day-old Pisum sativum cv. Dundale plants maintained under >90% relative humidity conditions for 72 h postinoculation. Symptoms evident by 11 days postinoculation consisted of pale brown lesions that were mostly 1.5 to 2 mm long and 1 to 1.5 mm wide. Approximately 50% of lesions showed a distinct chlorotic halo extending 1 to 2 mm outside the boundary of the lesion. P. herbarum was readily reisolated from infected foliage. A culture of this representative isolate has been lodged in the Western Australian Culture Collection Herbarium maintained at the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia (Accession No. WAC13499). Outside of Australia, P. herbarum, while generally considered a soilborne opportunistic pathogen, has been reported on a wide range of species, including field pea (3). Molecular analysis of historical isolates collected from field pea in Western Australia, mostly in the late 1980s, did not show any incidence of P. herbarum, despite this fungus being reported on alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and soybean (Glycine max) in Western Australia in 1985 (Australian Plant Pest Database). In Western Australia, this fungus has also been recorded on a Protea sp. in 1991 and on Arabian pea (Bituminaria bituminosa) in 2010 (Australian Plant Pest Database). To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. herbarum as a pathogen on field pea in Australia. These previous reports of P. herbarum on other hosts in Western Australia and the wide host range of P. herbarum together suggest the potential for this fungus to be a pathogen on a wider range of genera/species than field pea. References: (1) T. W. Bretag and M. Ramsey. Page 24 in: Compendium of Pea Diseases and Pests. 2nd ed. The American Phytopathologic Society, St Paul, MN, 2001. (2) J. A. Davidson et al. Mycologica 101:120, 2009. (3) G. L. Kinsey. Phoma herbarum. No 1501. IMI Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria, 2002. (4) T. L. Peever et al. Mycologia 99:59, 2007.

The literature relevant to the grazing management of lucerne in temperate Australia is reviewed with emphasis on the factors likely to affect its persistence. Knowledge of lucerne physiology is used to question the validity of the traditional methods of managing grazed stands, which rely mainly on using 10% flowering as a guide to root carbohydrate levels. From these data several alternative management guidelines are proposed that may lead to increased persistence; however, for long-term persistence, there is little doubt that lucerne needs to be grazed leniently and at a late stage of maturity. Several grazing experiments indicate that grazing periods of 16-20 days should have no effect on persistence, provided that the rest period between successive grazings is 35 days or longer. Data from other countries and Australian data from a limited number of experiments also indicate that grazing in either autumn or winter may substantially reduce production and could affect persistence. Three grazing studies in New South Wales were used to highlight critical differences in experimental design which make comparisons among experiments difficult. Standardised sowing rates and grazing management, and statistical procedures which account for the genotype x management x environment interaction, are suggested to improve the extrapolation of results from experiments to other environments. Persistence of different lucerne types under grazing, particularly those recently imported from the U.S.A. or bred in Australia, is considered. While it has been proposed that grazing effects may be related to crown structure, interactions with other factors which affect persistence may also occur. If grazing can be considered to be stressful to a lucerne plant then it could interact with other stresses, caused by moisture deficit, excessive moisture, insect pests and disease, to reduce persistence. Additionally, considerable variation in varietal resistance to some pests and diseases has been recorded in haycut stands, and so there may also be cultivar x grazing effects. All of these factors could combine to affect the persistence of a particular cultivar under grazing. Patterns of lucerne decline were either continuous or step-like. Continuous decline was associated with prolonged grazing, grazing and moisture stress, grazing under waterlogged conditions, or grazing in situations where the incidence of disease was likely to be high. To understand the reasons why plants fail to persist, measurements need to be made frequently and a1 regular intervals, and the moisture and disease status of the site needs to be accurately monitored. The adequacy of different methods of measuring stand persistence is also questioned. The implications for graziers, researchers and lucerne breeders are discussed.

Bibliography: leaves 81-100. Entry of inoculum into a crop and disease development in the crop cannot be prevented because spores are airborne and there is a lack of highly resistant varieties. This makes complete control of chocolate spot unlikely. It should however, be possible to improve current levels of disease control through the integration of the factors identified in the study.

Three pages of addenda pasted inside back cover. Bibliography: leaves 166-189. Rhizoctonia solani is a complex species comprising morphologically basidiomycetous imperfect fungi. This study aimed to determine genetic diversity within R. solani AG-3 causing rhizoctonia disease of potato in South Australia. For this purpose, pectic zymogram, PCR, DNA fingerprinting and RFLP techniques were used in conjunction with traditional plant pathology procedures.

Bibliography: leaves 224-236. The study aimed to determine the distribution of both P. thornei and P. neglectus in South Australia. Also to study the field and laboratory population dynamics of P. thornei in relation to wheat yields, to determine its host range on a variety of cereal and non-leguminous hosts and to identify possible sources of nematode resistant wheat cultivars/varieties. Preliminary experiments studied the involvement of root rotting fungi with the nematode in wheat disease.

Thesis (MScAgric)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Lucerne is the most important pasture and fodder crop in the winter rainfall area of South Africa. Various pests are known to cause damage to this crop. The use of the sweep net for monitoring pests is a cheap, easy and quick technique. If the sweep net is suitable for the lucerne pests in South Africa, potential pest status can be determined easily and quickly and the necessary precautionary measures taken to prevent crop losses. From a managerial point of view, it is also important to know the composition of the insect community in order to follow practices in which the number of beneficial insects can be increased and the injurious insects decreased. Therefore a study was done to quantify the use of the sweep net as a survey technique for monitoring pests on established lucerne stands. Insect diversity was also determined to obtain information on the insect families and guilds on lucerne. The redlegged earth mite, due to its importance as a pest, and the Anystis mite, important as a predator, were also included. The sweep net proved to be suitable for the sampling of the main lucerne pests. If a 29 cm diameter sweep net is swiped once per pace for six long paces, twelve systematically chosen sampling units are recommended for the lucerne earth flea and aphids. It is not necessary to differentiate amongst the three aphid species, or between the winged and unwinged aphids. Actual counts should be used instead of absence-presence data. Instead of counting all the insects in a sample, sub-samples can be taken. Operational characteristic curves can be used to determine the risk involved in the decision not to intervene, for example by spraying or grazing. Recommendations for monitoring and the accuracy of control decisions for the redlegged earth mite, Sitona weevil and lucerne butterfly can only be made after threshold values have been determined. The pea aphid, bluegreen aphid and lucerne earth flea showed peaks in their population levels during spring. Peak numbers of the spotted alfalfa aphid occurred during late summer and autumn. The Sitona weevil and lucerne butterfly numbers reached peak levels during late spring and early summer. For all pests population levels were dramatically reduced after grazing or cutting of the plantings. Therefore, these cultivation practices provided good control. The herbivores made up more than 85% of the insect community in lucerne. The largest herbivorous families, in terms of the number of individuals per family, were the Aphididae and Sminthuridae. These two families contain the main lucerne pests, the pea aphid, bluegreen aphid, spotted alfalfa aphid and the lucerne earth flea. The largest predatory family was the Anystidae, represented by the Anystis mite, the most important predator of the red legged earth mite and lucerne earth flea. Another well represented predatory family was the Coccinellidae, containing natural enemies of the aphids. The dryland plantings had a higher percentage of predators than the irrigated lucerne. The most important parasitaids were those in the superfamily Chalcidoidea and in the family Braconidae. The main detritivores were springtails in the suborder Arthropleona, insects in the families Mycetophilidae on irrigated lucerne, and Mycetophagidae on dryland lucerne. The most abundant visitors were in the families Chironomidae, Drosophilidae and Tephritidae. The dryland plantings had a lower percentage of visitors than the irrigated plantings. The number of insect families, as well as the number of individuals per family, was lower at the dryland plantings than at the irrigated plantings. The vast majority of insect families found on lucerne were collected during the one-year sampling period. A lower diversity was found where grazing was more severe, and there was a negative relationship between diversity and evenness.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Lusern is die belangrikste wei- en voergewas 10 die winterreëngebied van Suid- Afrika. Hierdie gewas word deur 'n verskeidenheid plae aangeval. Die gebruik van die swaainet vir die monitering van plae is 'n goedkoop, maklike en vinnige tegniek. lndien die swaainet geskik is vir die betrokke plae in Suid-Afrika, kan potensiële plaagstatus van die plae dus maklik en vinnig bepaal word en die nodige voorsorgmaatreëls getref word om verliese te voorkom. Vanuit 'n bestuursoogpunt is dit ook belangrik om te weet wat die samestelling van die insekgemeenskap is sodat praktyke gevolg kan word waardeur die getal voordelige insekte verhoog en nadelige insekte verlaag word. Gevolglik is 'n studie uitgevoer om die gebruik van die swaainet te kwantifiseer as 'n monsternemingsmetode vir die monitering van plae op gevestigde lusernstande. Insekdiversiteit is ook bepaal ten einde inligting te bekom oor die insekfamilies en -gildes op lusern. Die lusernerdvlooi en swartsandmyt, vanweë hul belang as plae, en die Anystis-roofmyt, vanweë sy belang as predator, is ook ingesluit. Die swaainet blyk geskik te wees vir die monitering van die. vernaamste lusernplae. Wanneer 'n 29 cm deursnee swaainet vir ses lang treë een keer per tree geswaai word, word 12 sistematies gekose steekproefnemingseenhede vir die lusernerdvlooi en plantluise aanbeveel. Daar hoef nie onderskeid tussen die plantluisspesies en tussen gevleuelde en ongevleuelde plantluise getref te word nie. Daar moet gebruik gemaak word van werklike insektellings en nie van aanwesigheid-afwesigheid data nie. In plaas van om al die insekte in 'n monster te tel, kan submonsters geneem word. Operasionele karakteristieke kurwes kan gebruik word om die risiko verbonde aan die besluit om nie op te tree, deur byvoorbeeld te spuit of bewei nie, te bepaal. Vir die swartsandmyt, Sitona-snuitkewer en lusernskoenlapper moet drempelwaardes eers vasgestel word voordat aanbevelings vir monitering en die akkuraatheid van besluite rakende beheer, gegee kan word. Vir die ertjieluis, blougroenluis en lusernerdvlooi het die bevolkingsvlakke 'n piek in die lente bereik. Die gevlekte lusernluis se piekgetalle was hoofsaaklik in die laat somer en herfs. Die Sitona-snuitkewer en lusernskoenlapper het piekgetalle gehad in die laat lente en vroeë somer. Vir al die plae het bevolkingspieke drasties afgeneem nadat die aanplantings bewei of gesny is. Hierdie verbouingspraktyke blyk dus goeie beheer te verskaf. Die herbivore op lusern het meer as 85% van die insekgemeenskap beslaan. Die grootste herbivoorfamilies, in terme van aantal individue per familie, was die Aphididae en Sminthuridae. Hierdie twee families bevat die vernaamste lusernplae, naamlik die ertjieluis, blougroenluis, gevlekte lusernluis en lusernerdvlooi. Die grootste predatoriese familie was die Anystidae, wat verteenwoordig is deur die Anystis-roofmyt. 'n belangrike predator van die swartsandmyt en lusernerdvlooi. Nog 'n predatoriese familie wat goed verteenwoordig was, was die Coccinellidae, natuurlike vyande van plantluise. Die droëland aanplantings het 'n hoër persentasie predatore gehad as die besproeide lusern. Die belangrikste parasitoïede aanwesig was dié in die superfamilie Chalcidoidea en familie Braconidae. Die vernaamste detritivore was erdvlooie in die suborde Arthropleona, insekte in die families Mycetophilidae by besproeide lusern, en Mycetophagidae by droëland lusern. Die volopste besoekers was lede van die families Chironomidae, Drosophilidae en Tephritidae. Die droëland aanplantings het 'n laer persentasie besoekers gehad as die besproeide lusern. Die aantal insekfamilies, asook die aantal individue per familie, was laer by die droëland aanplantings as by die besproeide aanplantings. Die oorgrote meerderheid insekfamilies wat op lusern voorkom, is gedurende die een jaar opnameperiode waargeneem. 'n Laer insekdiversiteit is gevind waar beweiding strawwer was, en daar was 'n negatiewe verband tussen diversiteit en gelykmatigheid.

Bibliography: leaves 307-329. This study concludes that in soils in South Australia where root-rotting fungi and P. neglectus exist together, root disease of wheat is caused by their combined effect. Evidence suggests that P. neglectus not only contributes to this interaction through mechanical wounding of roots, but also causes biochemical and physiological changes in plants, making them more prone to fungal infection.

Bibliography: leaves 131-153. This thesis investigates the mechanisms of manganese (Mn) efficiency (genetic tolerance to Mn-deficient soils) in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) at both physiological and molecular levels.