In a Nutshell IAN Spring 2023 FINAL | Page 38

RESEARCH & EVENTS

Integrated Disease Management - Californian study tour

Undertaking a study tour of California in May were , from left , Britt Oswald ( SARDI ), Brent Holtz ( UCCE ), Len Tesoriero ( Crop Doc ), Mo Nouri ( UCCE ) and Tonya Wiechel ( Agriculture Victoria ).
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IN MAY , Integrated Disease
Australian almond industry – Phase 1
Management ( IDM ) team members Dr
( 2017-2022 ) into diseases of almonds
Len Tesoriero , Brittany Oswald and
in Australia at the 11th Symposium of
Dr Tonya Wiechel spent two weeks
Almonds and Pistachios at UC Davis ,
in California , where they presented
California , from 7 to 11 May 2023 .
at the 11th Symposium of Almonds
The symposium program included
and Pistachios at the University of
presentations by key international
California ( UC ) Davis , reporting on
almond disease researchers and
outcomes from the Hort Innovation
covered aspects of pathogen
funded program AL16005 Integrated
biology , pathogen detection ,
disease management in Australian
pathogen quantification , plantpathogen
almonds .
interactions , disease
The following week , the team
resistance and resistance breeding ,
undertook a study tour to talk
molecular technologies , and
with UC Cooperative Extension
various disease management
( UCCE ) specialists and researchers
options .
in the field to better understand
The study tour included visits to the
recent developments in disease
following researchers and trial sites :
management in the Californian
• Two research groups at UC
almond industry .
Davis , California , including
The tour covered almond growing
plant physiologist Professor
regions throughout the Central Valley
Maciej Zwieniecki ( carbohydrate
from Chico in the north to Riverside
deposition in Monterey decline
in the south and included visits to
syndrome ) and plant pathologist
research trials at four locations ,
Dr Greg Browne ( Phytophthora ,
including an Almond Replant Field
and Prunus replant disease
Day .
specialist ).
The team presented the latest
• Drs Themis Michailides at
findings of AL16005 An integrated
UC Kearney , and Mohammad
disease management program for the
Yaghmour UCCE Kern County
In A Nutshell - Spring 2023 Vol 24 Issue 3
Bakersfield , leaders in almond disease research with particular emphasis on hull rot biology . This visit included a trip to an orchard trial site investigating hull rot management options and an almond replant field day at Kearney Agricultural Center , where rootstock field trials , Prunus Replant Disease ( PRD ) and whole orchard recycling were discussed with US growers .
• California State University Chico Research Farm north of Sacramento to meet with UCCE personnel Luke Milliron , who first identified the Monterey decline syndrome in California . Luke is a rootstock specialist leading field trials evaluating rootstocks for their suitability for mitigating disease .
• UC Stockton for discussions with UCCE personnel Brent Holtz and Mohamed Nouri on hull rot , trunk disease and whole orchard recycling , which are important issues for Australian almond orchards .