Beet western yellows virus (synonym: Turnip yellows virus) and green peach aphid in canola

Jenny Davidson 4, Brenda Coutts 1, Roger Jones 2, Paul Umina 3, Greg Baker 4, Mohammad Aftab 5
1 Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia, 2 The University of Western Australia, 3 cesar, 4 South Australian Research and Development Institute and 5 Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries

Key messages
• Beet western yellows virus (BWYV, syn. Turnip yellows virus) is widespread throughout grain growing areas of Australia.
• Early BWYV infection in canola can cause seed yield losses of up to 46%, decrease seed oil content and increase seed erucic acid and glucosinolate contents.
• Wild radish weeds and volunteer canola are the most important reservoirs but perennials such as lucerne and many weeds species can also be infected.
• Epidemics are likely to occur when aphids are present early in the season (green bridge prior to seeding, warm temperatures). GREEN BRIDGE MUST BE CONTROLLED.
• Integrated management strategies have been devised for BWYV in canola.
• Green peach aphid (GPA), the main vector for BWYV, has a high prevalence of resistance to insecticides. Growers should implement resistance management strategies for insecticides including neonicotinoids.