VCE Agricultural and Horticultural Studies

Prescribed list of pests, diseases and

weeds for 2014

Pests and diseases

The VCE Agricultural and Horticultural Studies Study Design (2011–2015) Unit 3, Outcome 1 requires
students to have knowledge about pests and diseases of plants and/or animals including metabolic, metazoal
and microbial, and their prevention and control. Students are required to identify and describe pests and
diseases associated with plants and/or animals, and their impact on an agricultural and/or horticultural
business.
Note that most of the listed pests and diseases have integrated management plans or biosecurity plans
available. Note that the metabolic disease group has no integrated management approach. Teachers are
advised to refer to information on websites of government departments and organisations, such as the
Department of Environment and Primary Industries, the Department of Sustainability and Environment or
the Australian Government’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Animal Health Australia and
Plant Health Australia.
The criteria used to select the pests and diseases on this list include the following:
• The overall list is applicable to both agricultural and horticultural businesses.
• Resources are available to support teaching of this pest and/or disease, including an integrated
management strategy or biosecurity plan for the pest or disease.
• The pests and diseases have a significant degree of impact, or potential for impact, on an agricultural and/
or horticultural operation.
• The pests and diseases are widespread and found throughout most regions of Victoria.

Pests and diseases

Common name of pest or disease Scientific name Animal or plant it affects (host)
Aphids Assorted species Ornamental plants, vegetables
Family: Aphididae
Coccidiosis Eimeria spp. Poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs
One of the following:
• Cattle lice Linognathus vituli Cattle
• Sheep lice Bovicola bovis Sheep
• Equine lice Haematopinus asini Horses
Production/VCE Studies/VCE AgHort PDW List/VCE_AgHort_PDW_List

• Chicken body lice Menacanthus stramineus Fowl

Liver fluke Fasciola hepatica Sheep, goats, cattle
Mastitis The main mastitis pathogens are Dairy cattle, sheep, goats
• Staphylococcus aureus
• Streptococcus agalactiae and
• Streptococcus uberis.
Milk fever Hypocalcaemia Cattle, goats
Footrot Dichelobacter nodosus Sheep, goats, horses, cattle

© VCAA 2013
 Common name of pest or disease
Western flower thrips
Stem and bulb nematodes
Scientific name Animal or plant it affects (host)
Frankliniella occidentalis Ornamental plants, fruit, vegetables
Ditylenchus dipsaci Cereal and grain crops, potatoes,
legumes, flowering bulbs
(e.g. tulips, daffodils)

Weeds
Unit 3, Outcome 1 also requires students to have knowledge about agricultural and horticultural weeds, and
their prevention and control. Students are required to identify and describe weed species and their impact on an
agricultural and/or horticultural business.
Note that most of the listed weeds have integrated weed management plans or biosecurity plans available.
The criteria used to select the weeds on this list include the following:
• the overall list is applicable to agricultural and horticultural businesses
• the availability of an integrated weed management strategy and/or biosecurity plans for the listed weeds
• the weeds have a significant impact, or potential for impact, on an agricultural and/or horticultural business
• the weeds are a widespread agricultural/horticultural problem and found throughout most regions of Victoria.

Common name of weed Scientific name Affects

Artichoke thistle Cynara cardunculus Animals, plants
Capeweed Arctotheca calendula Animals
Flickweed (also known as common Cardamine hirsuta Plants, specifically crops and
bittercress) those grown in nurseries or for
horticulture
Paterson’s curse Echium plantagineum Animals, plants
Annual ryegrass (also known as Lolium rigidum Animals, plants (especially
Wimmera rye) broadacre crops)
Blackberry Rubus fruticosus aggregate Animals, plants

Department of Environment and Primary Industries: www.depi.vic.gov.au

Department of Sustainability and Environment: www.dse.vic.gov.au
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry: www.daff.gov.au
Animal Health Australia: www.animalhealthaustralia.com.au
Plant Health Australia: www.planthealthaustralia.com.au

VCE Agricultural and Horticultural Studies – Prescribed list of pests, diseases and weeds for 2014   2