The First Australasian Soilborne Disease (ASDS) was held 9-12 February 1999 on the Gold Coast in Queensland. One hundred and forty eight delegates attended representing a range of industries (sugarcane, cotton, cereals, pineapples, market garden crops, apples, citrus, bananas, turf grass and others) and countries (Australia, China, France, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Thailand, United States and Vietnam). Four international keynote speakers attended and gave stimulating presentations on the following topics:- Soil health - Dr Arlena van Bruggen (USA) Root-microbe interactions (and disease suppression) - Dr Joe Kloepper (USA) Biological control - Dr Deborah Fravel (USA), and Suppressive soils - Dr Claude Alabouvette (France)

The main reason I had applied for funds to attend the conference was to present a poster on aspects of my project so as to receive essential feedback on my research and also to collaborate with scientific experts in similar fields. The conference provided a forum for the exchange of technical information on molecular genetics with special application in particular plant species including cotton. I felt that it would be beneficial to attend the conference to obtain necessary information and experience for the successful completion of my project

This project involved a travel grant for the purpose of attendance by CRC and CROCsupported personnel at two international congresses (IUPAC's International Congress on Pesticide Chemistry, London August 2-7, 1998 and World Cotton Congress 2 ln Athens, 1998). The CRC personnel who attended included Professor Ivan Kennedy, Dr Francisco Sanchez-Bayo, and CRDC-supported post-graduate students Ms Lynda! Hugo, Mr Angus Crossan and Mr Shuo Wang. The grant of $6,900 provided partial cover of the travel expenses involved, which was made up with other funds from the University and from personal resources. A significant impact was made at both congresses through the presentations made and there have been a number of researchrelated benefits to the cotton industry arising from these congresses.

This project aimed to improve technical capability to study the transport off-farm in i water and on sediments of pesticides such as endosulfan and members of the 'benzoyphenylurea (BPU) family. This was achieved mainly as the result of adaptation t of existing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for field studies, as well as the generation of new assays

tour was undertaken to the USA by four members of the Australian Cotton CRC National Extension team. The tour group was as follows: * Greg Salmond, Senior Development Extension Officer, QDPI, FSI (Dalby) * James Quinn, Cotton Industry Development Officer, NSW Agriculture (Moree) * Mark Hickman, Cotton Industry Development Officer, NSW Agriculture (Gunnedah). * David Kelly, Development Extension Officer, QDPI, FSI (Emerald) The principal objectives of my study tour were to raise my awareness and understanding of the following: * the roles and methods adopted by USA extension staff, farmers, and consultants in the application of Best Management Practice (BMP) systems. * the integration of the extension of technology with the implementation of such programs.

My attending the conference and visit to Texas has provided an opportunity to update on recent US research and experience and has enabled me to meet a number of US cotton researchers. This will lead to continued networking and future collaboration and enhance the effectiveness of my research activities.

OBJECTIVES OF TRAVEL: * To examine ways in which plant pathologists and practitioners control black root rot in cotton in the USA, including the use of biofumigation crops such as onion or hairy vetch, disinfestation of fields using summer flooding, protective fungicides used as seed dressings etc. * To gain information and a better understanding of the epidemiology of black root rot and the biology of the pathogen. * To develop collaborative research links with plant pathologists working on black root rot and other diseases of cotton in the USA.

Research in this project was conducted over 3 years to investigate a range of issues related to improving the management of pests in cotton, especially through the early season. Experiments investigated * the efficacy and non-target effects of new insecticides * the response of cotton to early pest damage from thrips and other pests * resistance in spider mites to insecticides * the effects of spider mites on yield of dry land cotton * plant resistance in cotton to spider mites * rotation crops and mite overwintering. * effects of aphids on cotton yield

Plants in Action ADAPTATION IN NATURE, PERFORMANCE IN CULTIVATION

This project was designed to: * Review all available sources of analytical and research data regarding the binding and potential for remobilisation of endosulfan on bottom sediments * Based on the results of the review and data analysis, make recommendations regarding future research requirements Based on the survey the following conclusions can be made: * Contamination of sediments by endosulfan is a normal occurrence where significant residues are transported from sites of application to rivers in runoff. However, there is no compelling evidence available of widespread ecological hazards from storage of endosulfan at high concentrations in sediments. No such cases of long~term storage have been reported. * Contamination of sediments does occur at a moderate level near application points, with transient ecotoxicological effects, but there are no reports in the literature of major contamination of water resulting from subsequent mobilisation of endosulfan stored in sediments. * The current concern regarding possible storage of endosulfan in sediments would most effectively be countered if carefully targeted research were conducted. * It is recommended that research should be conducted to determine the probable size of the pool of residues present in sediments and to measure the rate and extent of partitioning of endosulfan residues in sediments into the water column. This study would best be achieved in farm reservoirs because of the uncertainty of riverine systems.