PIT Group Sessions Bannerton and Waikerie 9th and 10th of November 2022

Topics

The 2022 Spring PIT Group meetings covered topics including:

  • Bad bugs
  • Cuticle protection
  • 2022/23 disease pressur

Bannerton, VIC & Waikerie, SA

9th and 10th November 2022

Rob Haynes, on right, from Waikerie discussing his tree management
Presentations
Meeting Report

We managed to find a couple of reasonable days among the incredibly wet days of November to hold the Spring PITGroup Sessions in Victoria and South Australia.  Although 59 people had indicated that they would attend, a change in venue in Victoria and the threat of flooding from the Murray River, and the need to build levee banks on properties saw the total number of attendees drop to 48 over the two days – 22 in Victoria and 28 in South Australia.

Both meetings had the same agenda, although Dr David Madge Zoomed in for the second meeting in Waikerie.   It was a full afternoon of presentations which included a field walk in Waikerie after the presentations.

The meetings were opened by PGA Executive Officer, Trevor Ranford and a presentation by President Chris Joyce followed.

PGA Researcher Dr Maha Mahadevan spoke on Pistachio Dieback for the 2022/23 season and the need to get information back to her so she could plan research activities into this problem.

Dr David Madge spoke on Carpophilus Beetle and Carob Moth, which have both proved very troublesome and costly to the Almond industry in recent years. Infestation and damage by the relatively new species, Carpophilus truncatus was found to commence at hull split, with damage levels increasing rapidly thereafter – indicating the need to harvest and disinfest crops as early as possible to minimise damage.  This pest went from being noted in the almond orchard in very low numbers to become a major pest in only a few seasons.  Residual and mummy nuts in almonds are seen to be a major source of the damaging Carpophilus species, with potential to support massive population increases of the pest. Destroying the remaining nuts through orchard hygiene practices is a critical factor for success in managing Carpophilus, regardless of other management options currently implemented.   These pests, although not currently a problem in pistachio crops pose a potential threat if there is a biotype alteration to the genetics of the insect or possibly the effects of climate change.  No matter what, vigilance in the orchard is paramount for any pest or disease outbreak!

Russell Fox spoke on Parka, a proprietary product of Cultiva, has been shown to protect crops from the effects of excessive water, heat and even damage from smoke as a result of environmental conditions creating raging wildfires. Parka is composed of food-grade phospholipids that supplement the plant cuticle – a plant’s first line of defence between the environment and the epidermal cells. Spray application forms an elastic, protective shield to maintain the integrity of fruit and foliage even as the crop develops.

Stewart Ford spoke on the Big Bag Recovery program which is an Australian Government Accredited Product Stewardship scheme for plastic bags over 15kg/l of contents (sacks and bulk bags). The program only includes recyclable bags that are woven polypropylene (wPP) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE). The program allows for two sizes: sacks and bulk bags. Most importantly, Big Bag Recovery takes on the responsibility of collecting and recycling your waste packaging and this includes all associated activities such as logistics, marketing, consumer education, compliance and reporting.  The pistachio industry will provide information to Stewart to establish a collection protocol in each state where possible.

Plant Pathologist Barbara Hall spoke enthusiastically on the potential fungal diseases that could infest orchards this growing season.  The very wet start of the 2022/23 growing season for pistachios is very similar to the 2010/11 season, which saw anthracnose devastate the crop.  Whilst we now have a better understanding of that disease and fungal spray programs, there is always the chance that some other disease will take off causing crop losses.  Barbara covered anthracnose, panicle and shoot blight (or ‘Bot’ as it is better known to growers), Alternaria, monitoring via BUDMON and ONFIT.

Management was also covered including:

  1. Sanitation –reduce inoculum load
  2. Canopy management –aeration to reduce leaf wetness
  3. Avoid damaging young nuts
  4. Manage weeds and irrigation (especially for Alternaria)
  5. Monitor? Disease and weather!
  6. Adjust harvest times?

 

Use an effective fungicide program – remember the Three ‘T’s

  • Treatment
  • Timing
  • Technique

 

An integrated management approach to disease control is seen as critical to success

Videos

Playlist

11 Videos