Australia will focus on the protection of cotton projects

According to foreign media reports, the new research project of the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries will focus on fungal diseases and verticillium, which will help the Australian cotton industry to strengthen management and risk prevention and control related to the disease. Research in key areas of the project will increase understanding of the genetic makeup and diverse symptoms of Australian cotton crops.

Dr. Karen Kirkby, a plant pathologist from the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, and her team will work with Dr. Toni Chapman, a research scientist at the Bureau of Primary Industries, to grow cotton. A tool was developed to determine the level of Verticillium dahliae in the soil. Dr. Karen Kirkby and her team are based at the Australian Cotton Institute in Narabi, while Dr. Tony Chapman works at the Elizabeth MacArthur Agricultural Institute.

Kirkby says that Verticillium dahliae is a widely distributed fungal plant pathogen that uses soil as a route of transmission to cause blight on many important crops and trees, including cotton.

“Verticillium wilt is a top priority in the cotton industry biosafety program,” she said. “When pathogens encounter suitable environmental conditions, they can reduce production by 30-40%. The annual value of the Australian cotton industry. A$2 billion. Our goal is to help cotton growers implement specific measures to reduce the impact of Verticillium wilt through new tools. This new tool energizes the level of nutrients in the soil,” Kirkby added.

Kirkby said that the incidence and severity of verticillium wilt can be determined by field surveys and soil samples. These will all be evaluated to determine the potential risks of the crop.

“The research team can expand new knowledge through this project and use their expertise in cotton pathology, combined with extensive NSW New Territories Bureau survey data, to participate and make decisions. Help growers and manage Personnel assess the risk of when and where to grow cotton. The goal of the project is to develop a fast and accurate diagnostic test for the cost of services to identify the strain causing the pathogen of Verticillium dahliae. The test will also be able to estimate the level of pathogens in the soil. Knowing what species and quantities are present in a particular area will enable growers and expert consultants to make informed planting decisions to minimize the risks associated with Verticillium wilt and reduce yield losses. Will help other industries affected by verticillium," Kirkby said.

Because the project is part of digital technology in the Dynamic Management of Rural Pathogens and Yield Revenue, research was conducted with the support of the Australian Wine and Cotton Research and Development Corporation. At the same time, it was also funded by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources as part of the Rural Research and Development Program in the New South Wales Primary Industries Bureau's Profit Plan.