Fungi

Fungi are eukaryotic (membrane bound nucleus) organisms that develop from reproductive bodies called spores. They can cause a number of diseases in animals and plants. As a disease of plants and animals, fungi are a risk for Western Australian primary producers as they impact upon market access and agricultural production.

WA is free from some of the world's major fungal diseases. Biosecurity measures on your property are vital in preventing the spread of fungal diseases.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development provides:

  • biosecurity/quarantine measures at the WA border to prevent the entry of fungal diseases.
  • where relevant post border biosecurity measures.
  • advice on widespread fungal diseases present in the state.

For advice on fungal 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.

See Also

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Articles

  • Hard, dry purple-black fungal bodies in place of grain in the seed head.

    Diagnosing ergot

    4 December 2013

    A fungal disease that produces toxic fruiting bodies in cereal heads and for which there are strict receival standards in place.

     

  • Heads are partly or fully bleached.

    Diagnosing fusarium head blight in cereals

    4 December 2013

    A rare fungal disease occurring mainly in high rainfall areas that can significantly reduce grain yield and quality and which produces toxins affecting marketability.

     

  • Light brown pustule on upper leaf surface that darken with age

    Diagnosing barley leaf rust

    20 January 2014

    A fungal leaf disease specific to barley that can spread rapidly within and between crops causing yield losses of up to 45% in susceptible varieties.

     

  • Florets are replaced with a mass of dark brown-black powdery spores that blow away.

    Diagnosing barley loose smut

    20 January 2014

    A fungal disease affecting seed heads, which can cause yield losses and delivery penalties.

     

  • Scattered plants with black heads or bare flower stalks.

    Diagnosing wheat loose smut

    4 December 2013

    A fungal disease affecting seed heads, which can cause yield losses and delivery dockages.

  • Dark brown spots that elongate and produce dark brown net-type streaks

    Diagnosing net type net blotch

    21 January 2014

    Net-type net blotch is a stubble-borne fungal foliar disease occurring more frequently in the medium and high rainfall areas of the WA wheatbelt. It can reduce grain yield and quality.

  • Roots stunted, short and stubby with few laterals.

    Diagnosing pythium root rot in cereals

    4 December 2013

    A widespread fungal root disease that attacks seedlings but which rarely causes large yield losses.

     

  • Yellow stripes that turn brown and eventually die.

    Diagnosing barley stripe

    20 January 2014

    A very rare fungal disease that is most often found in irrigated barley.

     

  • Bleached often diamond shaped lesions with dark brown edge

    Diagnosing barley scald

    21 January 2014

    A stubble and seed-borne fungal foliar disease occurring more frequently in high rainfall cooler areas that can cause grain yield losses up to 45% and reduce grain quality.

  • Severe powdery mildew infection on strawberry

    Powdery mildew of strawberries

    13 January 2014

    Powdery mildew is a disease which is becoming more prevalent in Western Australian strawberry crops as increasing areas are being grown under high (Haygrove) tunnels.

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