Pests, weeds & diseases

Pests, weeds and diseases pose a serious risk for primary producers as they can impact on market access and agricultural production.

To reduce the impact of pests, weeds and diseases, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development:

  • works with landholders, grower groups, community groups and biosecurity groups.
  • provides diagnostic services and information on prevention, management and treatment.
  • provides biosecurity and quarantine measures to prevent introduction, and to eradicate or manage current pests.

For advice on pests, weeds and diseases search our website, the Western Australian Organism List or contact our Pest and Disease Information Service (PaDIS).

For diagnostic services, please contact our Diagnostic Laboratory Services.

Articles

  • Indefinite areas of yellow then straw-coloured lesions on the leaf,stem, and tendrils

    Septoria leaf blotch Septoria pisi is a minor disease that is widespread in Western Australia.

  • Rotted roots

    Root rots caused by Fusarium spp, Pythium spp and Phytophthora spp are major problems in some regions of the eastern states, particularly where crops are grown on stored soil mois

  • Adult is 5mm long with white, black and grey patches

    The pea weevil (Bruchus pisorum) is  in fact a beetle not a weevil and should really be called the pea beetle. It is one of the most damaging pests of field peas.

  • Red legged earth mite and Blue Oat mite

    Field peas are very susceptible to mite damage at the seedling stage.

  • White chlorosis on tendrils and spray contact points

    Group F herbicides are registered for selective control of wild radish, wild mustard and wild turnip in cereals, legume crops and legume pastures.

  • Reduced and delayed emergence

    These are pre-emergent herbicides for the control of grasses and some broadleaf weeds in crops. Group D herbicide damage in field peas is rare.

  • Metribuzin damage. Typically scorched ends/edges of older leaves and tendrils

    This category contains root pre-emergent Group C herbicides such as simazine and metribuzin that are routinely used in lupins, but damage field peas.

  • Affected plants are stunted with reduced root systems

    Sulfonlyureas, imidazolamines and sulfonamides are systemic herbicides that are used for pre and/or post emergent grass and/or broadleaf weed control in cereals and are mostly highly toxic to peas.

  • The first sign is yellowing/ reddening and sometimes interveinal chlorosis of new growth

    Glyphosate is a systemic knockdown herbicide that is used extensively for brown fallow, summer weed or pre-seeding weed control, or selective weed control in glyphosate resistant crops.

  • Fluffy mouse-grey spore masses on the leaf underside

    Low levels of downy mildew Perenospora viciae are sometimes noticed in field pea crops late in winter, but crops usually grow away from it during the longer warmer spring days.