In this section:
Plant and soil health
The Plant and Soil Health program assists plant industries by providing targeted research and information solutions in cereal, pulse, horticulture, viticulture, pasture pathology, chemical control and bio-inoculants as well as the development and delivery of high-throughput molecular and immunological diagnostics. Integrated plant health solutions are achieved through scientific strengths in mycology, nematology, molecular diagnostics and microbiology linked to national and international collaborative networks.
Plant Pathology
The program provides information and solutions for disease management in horticulture, viticulture, pulse, oilseed and cereal crops and in pastures. Key strengths are plant disease diagnostic capabilities and provision of integrated disease management advice covering chemical and biological control and disease resistance. Disease resistance screening resources are available for the cereal, pulse and pasture industries.
Key contacts:
Horticulture Pathology: Dr Trevor Wicks
Pulse and Oilseed Pathology: Jenny Davidson
Pasture Pathology: Ross Ballard
Cereal Pathology: Dr Hugh Wallwork
Biosecurity
The unit offers plant disease identification services across all plant industries. The unit operates a post-entry plant quarantine facility, and coordinates quarantine compliance on Waite Campus. More information about SARDI's Quarantine Unit.
Key Contact: Barbara Hall
Soil Microbiology
The program has extensive experience in the development of Rhizobium inoculants for pasture and grain legumes, as well as development and testing of composts/inoculants for management of soil borne pathogens. The group has worked closely with breeding programs to characterise and develop pasture varieties that are able to form effective symbioses.
Key contact: Ross Ballard
Molecular Diagnostics
The group has unique, world-leading expertise and infrastructure to develop and deliver DNA based tests for quantification of fungal and nematode pathogens, weed seeds, beneficial soil microflora and plant roots in soil. The technology developed by the group has been commercialised for grain growers in Australia, and has been extended to monitoring of environmental impact in aquatic sediments. More information on molecular diagnostics.
Key contact: Dr. Alan McKay
Nematology
The unit offers research services in nematode identification and large-scale rapid plant screening for plant parasitic nematodes. More information on nematology.
Key Contact: John Lewis
Plant and Soil Health Program
Principal scientist: Dr. Kathy Ophel Keller
Download the Plant and Soil Health capability statement (.PDF)
