Dr Om P. Jhorar, Plant Pathologist at Narrabri NSW 2390 attended Pre-conference workshop at Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand, 8th International Congress of Plant Pathology, Australasian Plant Pathology Society Biennial General Meeting and Plant Health Australia Workshop “Developing a World Class Plant Pathology Diagnostic Network”

Outcome:

New strategies planned to manage black root rot and other interactive pathogens were developed from the meeting and these will be tested in a new project (submitted to CRDC). These strategies are:

• Initiate trials including Thermal-biodisinfestation of the soil using large volumes of biofumigation crops decomposed under clear polyethylene sheets over a period of three to four weeks to reduce T. basicola spore population and study its impact on other seedling diseases.

• Initiate the process of importing the seed of new biofumigating agent that may help reverse the soil borne pathogens of cotton seedling diseases including T. basicola.

• Initiate trials on managing black root rot of cotton in accordance to Rhizoctonia, Pythium and Fov.

Outputs:

• One poster presentation.

• Three discussion participation.

• Initiation of new experiments to meet current and future challenges