A BETTER understanding of phosphonate fungicide use in avocado could improve crop yields and the business bottom line for northern producers, according to a new project.
The Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation has initiated a study with funding from the Atherton Tableland Avocado Growers Association, and Horticulture Australia Ltd into how best to use phosphonate on Shepard avocado, the commercial variety commonly grown in North Queensland.
Senior extension horticulturist Matthew Weinert said similar work on the Hass variety had already taken place in South East Queensland.
"However, the disease control system for Shepard in the north, which has a different life cycle and is grown under wet tropical conditions, needs to be fine-tuned," Mr Weinert said.
Shepard avocados comprise 18 percent of the total Australian avocado crop with 45pc of Australia's Shepard avocados grown on the Atherton Tableland, and worth about $15m to the local economy at the farm gate.
A field day to outline the aims of the project for Atherton Tableland producers will be held at The Bees Knees orchard in Mareeba tomorrow (Friday, February 3).
"Despite more than 30 years' research, the fungal disease phytophthora root rot is still the major constraint to improving avocado productivity," Mr Weinert said.
"The disease reduces yields, fruit size, quality and shelf life, and makes fruit susceptible to sunburn."
He said if people could learn more about the Shepard tree's phenology its life cycle and climatic influences they would be able to make more informed decisions on when to apply phosphonate for maximum protection from the disease.
"This will help maintain the effectiveness of phosphonate as a control for phytophthora root rot, and increase the pro- ductivity and profitability of Shepard avocados on the Atherton Tableland," Mr Weinert said.
Jim Kochi, an avocado grower from Tolga and chairman of Avocados Australia, will give an overview and explain the importance of Infocado, the industry crop forecasting system, at the field day.
This internet-based system collects timely information on the volume of avocados entering the Australian market place, allowing individual packhouses and grower packers to make better informed management and marketing decisions.
DEEDI is running the field day in conjunction with the Atherton Tableland Avocado Growers Association and HAL.
