Dr David Nehl attended the 9th International Fusarium Workshop, the and a workshop by Plant Health Australia on Developing a World Class Plant Pathology Diagnostic Network.

Outcomes

. New concepts in disease control and epidemiology are being incorporated in

current research projects on diseases of cotton, including:

- Biological soil disinfestation

- Fumigation of soil using nitrogen fertiliser with nitrification inhibitors

- Novel agents for induction of systemic acquired resistance, including nitric oxide and

silicon compounds

- Role of matric potential on reproduction of F. oxysporum f. sp. vasinfoctum on crop

residues

Established new links and strengthened existing links with plant pathologists

in the Ministry of Agriculture in Israel, at the University of Pretoria in South

Africa, at the University of Anzoria, at the University of Arkansas, at the

University of Sydney, at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney.

Information on factors that may influence biological control of Fusarium wilt

with non-pathogenic strains of Fusarium oxysporum communicated to

Honours Student Christina Bakker at the University of Queensland.

Work on a draft biosecurity plan for cotton in Australia has commenced in

collaboration with Queensland DPI, Cotton Seed Distributors and the

Australian Cotton Growers Research Association.

Outputs

. Report and recommendations to the Cotton R&D Corporation

. Two posters presentations

. One keynote paper(at Fusarium Workshop)

. One invited review paper in a refereed journal based upon work in the

diseases of cotton project(see section 1.1)

. One oral presentation of highlights of the Congress given to peers at a NSW

Agriculture Crop Protection Workshop