Eradication of apple scab

Authors

John CrippsFollow
Ralph DoepelFollow

Keywords

Apples, Venturia inaequalis, Disease control, Western Australia

Disciplines

Biosecurity | Horticulture | Plant Pathology

First Page Number

147

Last Page Number

149

ISSN

0021-8618

Abstract

The detection of apple scab in two orchards at Pemberton and New/ands in December 1989 ended Western Australia's 41-year, scab-free span for apple growers .

Without eradication orchardists would have had to apply up to 20 fungicidal sprays a year, at an annual cost of $1-2 million, to be able to market a high proportion of scab-free fruit. The industry chose eradication as the cheaper alternative, but the location of infected orchards at Pemberton in particular, with its high rainfall, suggested that it would be difficult .

Scab, or black spot, is the most serious fungal disease of apples in the world. It affects leaves and fruit. Severely scabbed fruit cannot be sold.

Recommended Citation

Cripps, John and Doepel, Ralph (1993) "Eradication of apple scab," Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4: Vol. 34: No. 4, Article 7.
Available at: https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture4/vol34/iss4/7