Pests & Diseases of Truffles and their Host TreesA practical approach

Alison Mathews

ATGA Conference, Launceston TAS, 2019

Thank you truffle growers

The Pest and Disease Project

Background and Aims

• 2015-2019

• What pests and diseases are present

• How can they be managed based on Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPDM) principles

• Extend this information to industry

The Pest and Disease Project

Team & methodology

• Grower survey

• Orchard surveys, trials and demonstrations

• Lab based assessments

• Stewart Learmonth, Helen Collie, Alan Jacob (DPIRD), Anne Mitchel (Manjimup Underground), Celeste Linde (ANU), Alan Davey (Advyron) & Ainsley Seago (DPI NSW)

Why manage pests and diseases?

Summary of results

• 15% of all truffle harvested trimmed off

• 8.3% loss in value due to trimming of truffle for invertebrate damage and rot

• Slugs and Slaters are the two major pests

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10

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40

50

60

70

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A B C D E F G average

Percentage of truffles with slug and slater damage -2018

exposed shallow deep all

Why manage pests and diseases?

Summary of results

• Millipedes, springtails and Australian truffle beetles can also cause considerable damage

• Australian truffle beetle damaged 10-20% of truffles in one orchard

• Springtails damaged over 20% of truffles in one orchard

• Over 10% of exposed truffles had rot

• A range of tree diseases present in orchards

The Pest and Disease Project

Outputs – during the project

• Field walks, workshops, presentations, bi-annual newsletter

Outputs – end of the project

• Final Report

• Australian Truffle Orchards – Integrated Pest and Disease Management Manual

• Australian Truffle Orchards - Pest and Disease Field Guide

Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPDM)

IPDM is a strategy that takes into

account the whole crop and

surrounding ecosystem. Pest and

disease management decisions are

based on economic thresholds using

one or several of all appropriate pest

management tools available while

minimising the hazard to people, the

environment and the crop. White powdery coating on leaves of an oak

infected with powdery mildew

Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPDM)

Successful IPDM is dynamic;

evolving as on-farm

experience and new

knowledge are acquired.

Pinhole damage caused by Australian truffle

beetle

Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPDM)

Steps involved

1. Understand

2. Prevent

3. Monitor

4. Action thresholds

5. Control

6. Evaluate/ReviewExternal symptoms of cracks and sap

exudate in a hazelnut branch from stem

boring by stinking longicorn larva

IPDM – Step 1: Understand

Learn about the different diseases and pests for the crop.

• What are the most important diseases, pests and beneficials?

• What do they look like?

• What are lifecycles?

• How do the orchard environment and seasonal cycles impact

them?

Information helps you to make more informed management decisions.

IPDM – Step 2: Prevent

Management practices can be put in

place to exclude, prevent or

discourage pests and diseases from

becoming established or causing

further damage in the crop.

Electric fencing can help prevent animals

from neighbouring paddocks, properties and

bush from entering the truffle orchard.

IPDM – Step 2: Prevent

• Establish and Maintain a healthy orchard - Healthy trees that are not

under stress are less likely to be attacked by a range of pests and

diseases.

• Site selection and orchard establishment

• Slope, soil texture, structure depth and drainage

• Water quality and quantity

• Tree layout and spacing – air flow and light penetration

• Presence of pests and diseases – often easier to manage prior to planting

• Planting stock

• Nutrition – which nutrients and when

• Irrigation – quantity and timing

IPDM – Step 2: Prevent

• Electric fencing

• Tree guards

• Canopy and orchard floor

management

Tree guards installed at planting to prevent

ringbarking of young trees by African black

beetle adults

IPDM – Step 2: Prevent

• On-farm biosecurity and hygiene

• Fencing and signage

• Access roads and machinery and

vehicle movement

• People management - including staff,

tourists and contractors,

• Production practices

• Animal management

Clear signage reminds staff and visitors

of their farm hygiene obligations

IPDM – Step 3: Monitor

Find out what is actually in your crop. Ongoing monitoring as part of an IPDM program helps to build information on:

• What pests, if any, you have your orchard

• The abundance of different pests

• Where in the crop invertebrates and disease are present – hot spots;

• At what time of year they are present;

• Is management required;

• Impact of management on pest levels and harvest quality

IPDM – Step 3: Monitor

Tile monitoring• slugs

• slaters

• millipedes

• earwigs – pest and predatory

• beetle adults – pest and predatory

You will need

• 20cm bathroom tiles

• Flaky bran

• Score sheet

• Field guide

IPDM – Step 3: Monitor

Pitfall monitoring

• African black beetle – prior to

orchard establishment

• Australian truffle beetle

• Springtails

IPDM – Step 3: Monitor

Pipe trap monitoring – Australian truffle beetle

IPDM – Step 3: Monitor

Harvest and grading monitoring

IPDM – Step 3: Monitor

Orchard monitoring

Certain species of snails,

weevils and ants have to been

found to block mini-sprinklers

Collar rot symptoms from P.

cinnamomi

In severe cases bird damage may

lead to ring barking of trees.

IPDM – Step 4: Action Thresholds

Every pest/crop situation has a threshold below which control is not

economically viable i.e. the cost of damage by the pest is lower

than the cost of control. Thresholds vary from pest to pest and with

individual growers/managers and their own level of comfort with

pest risk.

IPDM – Step 4: Action Thresholds

Currently no established economic thresholds for truffle

pests. There are guideline that need to be combined

with monitoring results and local knowledge.

• Slaters – 6 to 10 Per tile, on average

• Slugs – 1 per tile, on average

IPDM – Step 5: Control

When monitoring, if action thresholds suggest management is

needed, choose a sustainable technique that is least disruptive to

beneficial agents in the crop system and has least negative impact

on the crop and the environment.

IPDM – Step 5: Control

Control options can fall into one of the following categories:

• Biological – this includes predators, parasites, pathogens and competitors that will kill or

disadvantage the pest. They are often referred to as beneficials.

• Cultural – this includes pre-plant cultural practices such as site selection and ground

preparation that can help prevent and/or manage pests and diseases. There are also crop

management practices including weeding, pruning, plant nutrition and irrigation control that

help reduce pest reproduction, dispersal and survival, and enhance tree health.

• Mechanical/physical – these are operations or tools that physically kill or exclude a pest or

disease and include tillage, mowing, traps, plant guards and electric fencing.

• Chemical – In IPDM, chemical pesticides are not excluded but should be used with

consideration and where possible, select those that have minimal impact on non-target

organisms as well as the orchard and surrounding environment. They should be integrated

with other management options.

IPDM – Step 5: Control

Biological

Predatory carabid beetle attacking a slug Predatory staphylinid beetle

IPDM – Step 5: Control

Cultural

Poor canopy management can lead to higher

pest and disease risk

The major invertebrate pests all prefer

moist environments. Note the snails that

could impact on irrigation effectiveness.

IPDM – Step 5: Control

Cultural

Tractor mounted leaf blower used to clear leaf

litter from orchard rows to make the orchard

floor less hospitable for major invertebrate pests

De-suckering of hazels to reduce habitat for

major invertebrate pests.

IPDM – Step 5: Control

Mechanical/physical

Covering truffles creates a physical barrier for

invertebrate pests and reduces incidence of rot

Cultivation will disturb and kill ground

dwelling invertebrates. Would need to

be assessed along with long term

impact on truffle production.

IPDM – Step 5: Control

Mechanical/physical

Pitfall traps are a potential management

technique that requires further assessment.

IPDM – Step 5: Control

Chemical

• Iron EDTA – APVMA permit no.87270

IPDM – Step 5: Control

Chemical

• Always read and follow the label and permit instructions

• Is there a need? – monitoring and other management

strategies

• Timing – when are slugs active

• Application method – correct rate and even distribution

• Follow-up – further monitoring then further management as

required

IPDM – Step 6: Evaluate/Review

After taking action, assess and evaluate its effectiveness.

Continued monitoring is part of this. Keep abreast of any new

information that improves the success and sustainability of pest

management.

Thank you

Visit dpird.wa.gov.au

Important disclaimerThe Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and the State of Western Australia accept no liability whatsoever by reason of negligence or otherwise arising from the use or release of this information or any part of it.

Copyright © Western Australian Agriculture Authority, 2017