Lettuce Best Practice Project and Improving Lettuce Insect Pest Management

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Funded by R&D Levies, HAL, Ausveg and DPI

These two projects have now been completed but the results and information is still valid for lettuce producers. The projects were both 3 years and funded by the Vegetable Growers R&D levy, HAL, and DPI. A number of information sheets and brochures have been produced as well as the final reports and these area available for down loading on this page.

The Best Practice Project aimed to identify key control factors and develop strategies to help manage tipburn in lettuce and to decrease the incidence and severity of tipburn in the two main lettuce types iceberg and cos lettuce. Tipburn is the major quality production issue faced by Victorian lettuce growers. Tipburn reduces the quality of both fresh market lettuce and is critical in minimally processed salad mixes. Tipburn is considered to be a calcium deficiency-related disorder seen as dead areas at the margins of young developing leaves enclosed in the lettuce head.

Field trials were carried out to monitor current practices in relation to irrigation, nutrient management and environmental conditions and assessed the impact of these on the incidence of tipburn and plant growth. Trials also assessed cultivar selection and the effect on tipburn and other quality issues.

Key contact: Slobodan Vujovic, DPI Knoxfield

Final Report

This report presents the key findings and a summary of the work conducted in Victoria from July 2001 to June 2004 by the Project team.

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the below documents. A free copy can be downloaded from Adobe Acrobat (external link).

Improving Lettuce Insect Pest Management - Victoria
Final report for HAL project VG01038
By: Rob Dimsey, Peter Ridland, Slobodan Vujovic and Lavinia Zirnsak

(PDF 836kb)

The PDF files below explain strategies that growers can use to help them control Heliothis, Thrips and Tipburn in lettuce.

Tipburn This brochure outlines way to improve lettuce quality by improving management practices and by reducing the incidence of disorders and crop damage. A major issue for Australian growers is Tipburn and, whilst it may not be completely eliminated its occurrence and severity can be reduced through improved production practices.	(PDF 231kb)
Heliothis Strategy This is a strategy to help lettuce growers control corn earworm (Heliothis) in lettuce. Topics include: monitoring/scouting, non-chemical controls and chemical controls.	(PDF 361kb)
Thrips in lettuce This is a strategy to help lettuce growers control thrips in lettuce.	(PDF 284kb)
Scouting protocol for Lettuce Key points for lettuce monitoring including sample record sheet.	(PDF 328kb)
Lettuce- best management production practice to meet the market requirements of consistent product quality and shelf life Final report for the project VG 98082 By: Rob Dimsey, Craig Murdoch, Lavinia Zirnsak, Stephanie Andreata, Tegan Rennick, Julie Sippo, Slobodan Vujovic and Paul Pierce	(PDF 950)
Improving Lettuce Insect Pest Managment poster	(PDF 118kb)

Related Links & Websites

Information Notes
Related Sites for Victorian Farmers

Please note: by electing to visit the links below, you will be leaving the DPI website.

Types of Lettuce
Diseases of Lettuce in Arizona
Lettuce Production in California
Lettuce Production
Growing Lettuce: Common Question
Pest Management Guidelines
Anthracnose