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A natural fungus is being exploited to attack the Noogoora burr, an invasive weed that has major impacts on agriculture and the environment in eastern Australia.
Graham Charles, an agronomist with NSW's Department of Primary Industries (DPI), said the project identified a fungal pathogen, Alternaria zinniae, as a potential bio-herbicide.
"Testing at Glasshouse has shown that the fungus will infect the Noogoora burr, but it requires a prolonged period of dew or shallow moisture to achieve maximum impact," said Mr. Charles.
"In collaboration with the University of Melbourne, we are developing formulations of complex mushroom spore emulsions, which retain moisture to improve weed infestation over time.
"The Noogoora strawberry is a unique puzzle because of its many species and complex DNA: we must ensure that the fungus is effective for all species.
"DNA sequencing helps to clarify the differences between four species within what is known as the Noogoora Burr Complex: Noogoora burr Xanthium occidental, Hunter burr X. italicum, burr Californian X. eastern" , South American burr X. cavanillesii and interspecific hybrids. "
To date, approximately 100 samples have been collected at NSW and Queensland.
In preliminary work on DNA barcoding and population genetics, NSW DPI and the University of Queensland have found that Hunter and Noogoora strawberries are genetically different, but hybrids exist.
This information will be useful for understanding any species-specific future response to the new bio-herbicide.
Noogoora's bramble is also home to insect pests and fungal pathogens that affect cotton, including environmental pests and Verticillium dahliae, responsible for verticillosis – a major concern of the southern cotton industry. of New South Wales.
NSW DPI cotton pathologists use molecular techniques to determine which strain of V. dahliae is hosted by each species of the Noogoora burr complex.
Alternaria zinnia on a Noogoora strawberry.
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