New biocontrol solution for sustainable management of weed impacts to agricultural profitability

Abstract

This project aimed to develop biocontrol agents for the control of ten weeds of importance in Australia. Five of these weeds are Weeds of National Significance (WoNS): cabomba, Sagittaria, prickly acacia, silverleaf nightshade and African boxthorn. Fleabane and sowthistle have become major weeds of cropping land while mother-of-millions and giant rat’s tail grass impact on grazing land. The final weed, ox-eye daisy is becoming a serious environmental weed in crown land.
Biocontrol agents, when released and established in the Australian environment, will benefit primary producers through the general landscape level reduction in weed pressures on rangelands, croplands and water assets, thereby enabling better integrated weed management outcomes. Farmers directly affected by the weeds targeted with these new biocontrol agents will see a gradual reduction in their control costs, as the released agents build-up their populations and cause increasing damage on the weeds.