Factors contributing to poor lucerne persistence in southern Queensland

Abstract

Lucerne disease surveys made in southern Queensland have shown the presence of seven fungal root and crown diseases. The two most wide spread and serious diseases are Phytophthora root rot (Phytophthora megasperma) and Colletotrichum crown rot (Colletotrichum trifolii). The general disease survey did not reveal the presence of bacterial wilt (Corynebacterium insidiosum) in Queensland. Studies made on the survival of lucerne populations for 2.5 years at three sites in Queensland have shown that disease was the major cause of all detected plant deaths.