VCE Agricultural and Horticultural
Studies: Prescribed list of pests, diseases
and weeds 2016
Pests and diseases
The VCE Agricultural and Horticultural Studies Study Design (2011–2017) 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 for most of the listed pests and diseases there are integrated management plans or
biosecurity plans available. Note that for the metabolic disease group there is no integrated
management approach. Teachers are advised to refer to information on websites of government
departments and organisations, such as the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning,
and the Australian Government’s Department of Agriculture, Animal Health Australia or Plant Health
Australia.
The criteria used to select the pests and diseases on this list are:
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The overall list is applicable to both agricultural and horticultural businesses.
Resources are available to support teaching about 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.
Common name of pest or disease
Scientific name
Animal or plant it affects (host)
Aphids
Assorted species
Ornamental plants, vegetables
Coccidiosis
Eimeria spp.
Poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs
One of the following:
 Wheat rust
 Barley rust
 Grapevine rust
 Rose rust
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Puccinia triticina
Puccinia hordei
Phakopsora euvitis
Phragmidium sp.
Wheat
Barley
Grapevines
Roses
Primary green blowfly (or Australian
sheep blowfly)
Lucilia cuprina
Sheep
Mastitis
The main mastitis pathogens are:
 Staphylococcus aureus
 Streptococcus agalactiae
 Streptococcus uberis
Beef, dairy cattle, sheep, goats
© VCAA
VCE Agricultural and Horticultural Studies: Prescribed list of pests, diseases and weeds 2016
Common name of pest or disease
Scientific name
Animal or plant it affects (host)
Liver fluke
Fasciola hepatica
Sheep, goats, cattle
Western flower thrips
Frankliniella occidentalis
Ornamental plants, fruit,
vegetables
Pregnancy toxemia
N/A
Cattle, sheep, goats
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 for most of the
listed weeds there are integrated weed management plans or biosecurity plans available.
The criteria used to select the weeds on this list are:



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The overall list is applicable to agricultural and horticultural businesses.
An integrated weed management strategy and/or biosecurity plans for the listed weeds are
available
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
Impacts
Capeweed
Arctotheca calendula
Animals, plants
Flickweed (also known as common
bittercress)
Cardamine hirsuta
Plants, specifically crops and
those grown in nurseries or for
horticulture
Gorse/furse
Ulex europaeus
Animals and plants
Paterson’s curse
Echium plantagineum
Animals, plants
Winter grass (or Annual Meadowgrass)
Poa annua
Plants, specifically crops,
pastures and those grown in
nurseries or for
horticulture
Wild radish
Raphanus raphanistrum
Animals and plants (especially
crops)
Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning: http://delwp.vic.gov.au/
Department of Agriculture: www.agriculture.gov.au
Animal Health Australia: www.animalhealthaustralia.com.au
Plant Health Australia: www.planthealthaustralia.com.au
© VCAA
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