School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences - Theses

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    Sunraysia : a social survey of a dried fruits area
    McIntyre, A. J. (Alan John) (University of Melbourne, 1948)
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    A new virus disease of carrots : its transmission, host range, and control
    Stubbs, Lionel Leslie ( 1948)
    During 1940 commercial vegetable growers in the Melbourne market garden area requested an investigation of a disease of spring sown carrots, which had been occurring over a number of years. Summer sowings were not affected, but the failure, or partial failure, of spring sowings had made the production of this crop uneconomic, and as a result, the continuity of carrot supplies to the Melbourne market had been disrupted. The principal objects of the investigation described in this paper have been the elucidation of the factors responsible for the disease, and the development of practical disease control measures. A preliminary report of the investigation, which commenced in 1941, has been published elsewhere (Stubbs & Grieve, 1944).
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    Some applications of petroleum hydrocarbons to Australian horticulture
    Spicer, R. W ( 1946)
    For many years petroleum hydrocarbons have been used in horticulture. The most important applications have been in the field of economic entomology and emulsions of petroleum hydrocarbons are widely employed for the control of insect pests such as scale insects and acarine mites. Such emulsions are widely used on citrus, on dormant deciduous trees, and deciduous trees in various stages of development. Hydrocarbons with different physical properties are required for these different applications, depending on the requirements for safety, efficiency, and their provision at a minimum cost. There have, however, been other applications in which physiological results are sought. It has been the practice of many apple growers to apply emulsified petroleum hydrocarbons to stimulate the break of dormancy in the trees in spring. Similarly sprays of petroleum hydrocarbons have been used with a view to "waterproofing" cherries near maturity, so that in the event of rain, the absorption of water is limited, and the ensuing cracking of fruit is reduced. Yet again, there are useful applications in the storage of fruit. "Superficial scald" of Granny Smith apples is eliminated by using oiled wraps, while wilting of other fruits such as apples and all kinds of citrus in storage, is delayed by means of films of petroleum hydrocarbons. Two research projects in these fields with which the writer has been concerned over the period 1940-44 inclusive, are described below. They have been confined in the main to Victoria, but conditioned in many details by knowledge of horticultural problems in other States and directed towards an Australian wide application. The work falls logically into two sections - (1) Physiological - The application of emulsified petroleum hydrocarbons to vines, with a view to delaying the breaking of dormancy, thus passing the period of maximum frost liability in the dormant condition. (2) Insecticidal - The development of an insecticidal composition consisting essentially of dinitrocresol dissolved in petroleum hydrocarbons, and its possible applications to Australian horticulture. The former section was investigated by the writer in conjunction with officers of the C.S.I.R., Merbein; notably Mr. D. V . "'alters . The writer played a major part in the planning and performance of the trial, and the estimation and examination of results, but it cannot be claimed as individual research. The latter section was entirely planned and carried out by the writer and has led to the development of a horticultural insecticide which has been applied commercially for several years with success.
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    The codling moth in Williams pears : a report of an investigation into the problem in the Goulburn Valley, 1936-19
    Miller, L. W (1915-) ( 1944)
    The codling moth (Cydia pomonella,L.) is the most serious pest of pears in the Goulburn Valley irrigation area. In the Shepparton, Kyabram, and Ardmona districts, there are approximately 3500 acres of Williams Pon Chretien pears grown principally for canning purposes. For some years past, the losses of pears due to the codling moth have been considerable. In 1936 it was estimated, by executives of the Northern Victoria Fruitgrowers' Association, that codling moth losses accounted for as much as 20% of the total pear crop from the area, that is, a loss of at least �20,000 per annum was being experienced by the industry. No investigation of the codling moth had ever been conducted in the Goulburn Valley; and, although a considerable amount of research had been done elsewhere on the control of the pest in apples, little information was available on combatting the codling moth in pears. Ward (1936) conducted a survey of the pear-growing districts of the Goulburn Valley and found that there was a complete lack of uniformity among growers as to the control measures being used against the codling moth. Having no precise information on the seasonal activity of the pest, growers were not In a position to apply their sprays at the correct time, nor was there an efficient spray schedule in general use. In response to a request from the Northern Victoria Fruitgrowers' Association, and with funds made available from a Commonwealth grant for research and advisory work in relation to the apple and pear industry, an investigation of the problem of codling moth in 'NEC pears was commenced in 1936 by the Victorian Department of Agriculture. For the first two years of the investigation, portion of the Oriental Peach Moth Laboratory at the Ardmona Cannery was kindly made available by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, and so facilitated a study of the bionomics of the codling moth under Goulburn Valley conditions.