This app provides an updated and expanded guide to the symptoms of most of the diseases and disorders that may be observed in Australian cotton crops. It also provides descriptions of those diseases identified as ‘priority pests’ or ‘biosecurity threats’ in our Farm Biosecurity Manual for the cotton industry. These are diseases we don’t have and don’t want in Australia! Quarantine is vital! It is very important that farmers, consultants, agronomists, tractor drivers and anyone else that enters the crop should keep their eyes open to the unusual and keep asking the questions and challenging the ‘experts’!

A disease can be defined as any deviation from normal growth and development. Such deviations can be caused by pathogens, pests, other plants, the environment, herbicides or problems with plant nutrition. Observations made from a seat in a vehicle parked near the tail drain or the application of sophisticated molecular diagnostics probably won’t distinguish between bean root aphid, Fusarium wilt, allelopathy or a lightning strike. It is hoped that the use of this field guide for symptoms, and a closer look at the problem, will enable most causes to be identified. Only when a cause is identified can appropriate control strategies be recommended and implemented.

This APP isn’t aimed at providing solutions to problems; it is merely the guidepost so you can begin to know where to look for the solutions to: “What’s wrong with my cotton crop?”

There are lots of industry resources that can provide supporting information on best management of diseases and disorders of Australian cotton, such as the Cotton Pest Management Guide and the Cotton Production Manual. Go to http://www.mybmp.com.au for more information.