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Title / Select control programmes for amenity plant diseases and disorders
Level / 4 / Credits / 8
Purpose / This unit standard is for people working or intending to work in amenity horticulture. People credited with this unit standard are able to: identify a range of specific amenity plant diseases and disorders; evaluate disease and disorder control measures; and select a disease and disorder control programme for a specified amenity horticultural situation.
Classification / Horticulture > Amenity Horticulture
Available grade / Achieved
Explanatory notes
Legislation relevant to this unit standard includes but is not limited to the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996, and subsequent amendments.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Identify a range of specific amenity plant diseases and disorders.
Evidence requirements
1.1Fungal diseases are recognised and named by viewing signs or symptoms.
Rangediseases – downy mildew, grey mould, phytophthora, powdery mildew, sclerotinia, silver leaf, wilt fungi;
signs or symptoms – bulb rots, cankers and diebacks damping off, fungal galls, leaf spots, rusts.
1.2Bacterial diseases are recognised and named by viewing symptoms.
Rangebacterial spot (begonias), blast (peach, citrus), fireblight (Cotoneaster, Pyracantha), soft rot, crown gall.
1.3Viral diseases are recognised and named by viewing symptoms.
Rangemosaics, breaks, wilts.
1.4Causes of physiological disorders are recognised.
Rangenutrient deficiencies, nutrient toxicities, wind damage, hail damage, unsuitable light levels, unsuitable soil moisture levels, unsuitable temperatures.
Outcome 2
Evaluate disease and disorder control measures.
Evidence requirements
2.1Cultural control methods are explained, and illustrated with common examples.
Rangesix of – barriers, crop rotation, environmental modification, hygiene, pheremones, planting nectar sources to attract natural enemies, prevention of plant injury, quarantine, resistant cultivars, soil cultivation, soil water management, time of sowing.
2.2Biological control is explained, and illustrated with examples of pathogens commonly used.
RangeAgrobacterium radiobacter, Trichoderma viride.
2.3Pesticides used to control amenity plant diseases and disorders are summarised according to chemical name, formulation, toxicity, mode of action, and resistance potential.
2.4The principle of integrated pest control is explained, and specific programmes are outlined.
2.5Health and safety precautions for using pesticides are outlined.
Rangeprecautions to protect the user, other people, other crops, the environment according to the Standard.
Outcome 3
Select a disease and disorder control programme for a specified amenity horticultural situation.
Evidence requirements
3.1Major diseases and disorders present are listed in relationship to their vulnerability to various environmental conditions.
3.2Chemical control methods are identified on the basis that cultural and biological methods have been exhausted.
3.3Cultural, biological, and chemical methods are integrated into the selected programme.
3.4Programme selected is justified against other available programmes.
Rangeall chemical, all biological.
This unit standard is expiring. Assessment against the standard must take place by the last date for assessment set out below.
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for AssessmentRegistration / 1 / 28 January 1995 / 31 December 2013
Review / 2 / 28 November 1997 / 31 December 2013
Revision / 3 / 19 July 2001 / 31 December 2013
Revision / 4 / 24 February 2006 / 31 December 2013
Review / 5 / 20 June 2008 / 31 December 2015
Review / 6 / 18 August 2011 / 31 December 2015
Rollover / 7 / 17 October 2013 / 31 December 2015
Rollover / 8 / 17 September 2015 / 31 December 2019
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference / 0032
This CMR can be accessed at
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Primary Industry Training OrganisationSSB Code 101558 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018