Research into the biological control of Fireweed Andy Sheppard & Rachel McFadyen Brian Sindel, Louise Morin, Royce Holtkamp, Kathyn Edmonson & Dept Ag Hawaii Fireweed Workshop Bega May 08

Biocontrol as a part of integrated management Recommendations Outline Know your target Biocontrol history Biocontrol future? Biocontrol as a part of integrated management Recommendations Fireweed Workshop Bega May 08

Know the target: Taxonomy Fireweed part of a complex of probably 3-6 species in South Africa Senecio madagascariensis 2N Kwazulu-Natal Senecio inaequidens 4N Lesotho (Hilliard 1977) S. burchelli S. skirrhodon S. pellucidus All species hybridise and produce viable seed x S. harveianus 2N ? Weed in Australia, South America, Hawaii & Japan (Lafuma et al. 2003) Weed in Europe Fireweed Workshop Bega May 08

Phylogeny of Senecio (Pelser et al. 2002) Australian native group Fireweed group Fireweed Workshop Bega May 08

Know your target: Origin and Distribution ∆ S. madagascariensis ▲S. harveianus  S. inequidens KWZULU-NATAL Lafuma et al. 2003 Fireweed Workshop Bega May 08

Natural enemies on Fireweed in Australia Survey by Hosking & Holtcamp and in late 1990’s all the common insects attacking S. pinnatifolis group in E Australia also attacked fireweed further evidence of close taxonomic Fireweed in Australia systematically attacked by the Australian rust (Puccinia lagenophorae) also recorded from S. pinnatifolius group. Fireweed Workshop Bega May 08

Know the Target : Variation in Australia Still spreading - covering only small part of potential distribution (Sindel & Michael 1996, Sindel 2008) and becoming more sympatric with related native species in S. pinnatifolius group. S. pinnatifolius group spp. also invade pasture systems (e.g. S. brigalowensis in central QLD) Sterile hybrids with most closely related S. pinnatifolius group Toxic alkaloids low but variable Fireweed Workshop Bega May 08

Biocontrol as a part of integrated management Recommendations Outline Know your target Biocontrol history Biocontrol future? Biocontrol as a part of integrated management Recommendations Fireweed Workshop Bega May 08

Biocontrol history : Australia Declared target for biological control in 1991 Surveys for agents in Madagascar prior to fireweed evolutionary origins knowledge led to testing pyralid (Phycitodes sp.) and a tortricid (Lobesia sp.). Both failed to be fireweed specific (McFayden and Sparks 1996) PPRI scientists in South Africa found a rust fungus on S. madagascariensis. MLA funded project initiated to assess this fungus in 2002-2003 Dried specimen Fireweed Workshop Bega May 08

Biocontrol history: Search for rust fungi (Morin 2003) ▲ S. madagascariensis populations located without rust fungus  S. madagascariensis populations located without rust fungus Morin 2003 Fireweed Workshop Bega May 08

Biocontrol history: Assessment of SAf rust in Quarantine (Morin 2003) Isolates shipped to Quarantine in Canberra Taxonomic evidence suggested new rust was also P. lagenophorae could not be confirmed SAf rust isolates attacked AU fireweed failed to penetrate S. lautus subsp. lanceolatus in trials SAf rust isolates comparable, but sometimes less virulent than Australian P. lagenophorae rust isolates 18 records of P. lagenophorae on S. lautus in Australia suggest at least different pathotypes exist. Fireweed Workshop Bega May 08

Biocontrol history: Overseas activities (Hawaii) Host specificity testing complete for an Arctiid moth (Secusio extensa) collected from “fireweed” in Madagascar Development completed on 5 plant genera (Senecio, Emilia, Erechtites, Delairea & Crassocephalum) in the tribe Senecioneae Not nearly specific enough for release in Australia with many native Senecio’s Fireweed Workshop Bega May 08

Biocontrol history: Overseas activities (Hawaii) Other potential agents Nyctemera apicalis (Arctiid tiger moth) appears restricted to tribe Senecioneae Hawaii planning further agent selection activities in Africa in June-August 2008 Fireweed Workshop Bega May 08

Biocontrol as a part of integrated management Recommendations Outline Know your target Biocontrol history Biocontrol future? Biocontrol as a part of integrated management Recommendations Fireweed Workshop Bega May 08

Biocontrol future : For v against Biocontrol only continent- wide control option Fireweed still spreading Existing grazing management options have not provided a widespread solution Weed is exotic Biocontrol of other Senecio sp. has been successful in Australia Weed biocontrol historically good investment B/C 23:1 Weed of international relevance Against Fireweed hybridises with native Senecio’s – minimal taxonomic isolation Mono-specific biocontrol agents hard to find? No specific/effective agents have yet been found Even with specific agents 1 in 3 Biocontrol programs fail Biocontrol will require nearer a $3-5M budget ($300K < 10% required) Long time frames (next generation benefits) Fireweed Workshop Bega May 08

Biocontrol future : Analysing “Against” Fireweed hybridises with native Senecio’s – minimal taxonomic isolation Targets with congeneric natives are the focus of other programs in Australia - Senecio’s, Acacia’s, Sporobolus’s, Nasella’s, Rubus’s, Rumex’s etc. McFadyen IOBC conference paper Feb 2008 – “Classical Biocontrol: possible even for weeds with congeneric native species” Fireweed Workshop Bega May 08

Biocontrol future : Analysing “Against” Mono-specific biocontrol agents hard to find? Availability of monospecific agents – not as hard as expected species specific agents - most widespread targets have a few. biotype specific arthropods (e.g. Chromolaena) biotype specific pathogens (pathotypes) the norm for obligate pathogenic fungi used as biocontrol agents McFadyen IOBC conference paper Feb 2008 – “Classical Biocontrol: possible even for weeds with congeneric native species” Fireweed Workshop Bega May 08

Biocontrol future : Analysing “Against” No specific/effective agents have yet been found Past surveys have focussed outside the native range of S. madagascariensis Surveys in native range focussed on one rust pathogen – although no others were clearly obvious Additional searching and screening may reveal more virulent rust pathotypes – no guarantee of success Manipulating target densities in native range might “trap” effective agents not found by observation Fireweed Workshop Bega May 08

Biocontrol future : Analysing “Against” Even with specific agents 1 in 3 Biocontrol programs fail Successful programs exist so such agents can be effective (e.g. Senecio jacobaea, Rumex pulcher) McFadyen IOBC conference paper Feb 2008 – “Classical Biocontrol: possible even for weeds with congeneric native species” Fireweed Workshop Bega May 08

Biocontrol future : Analysing “Against” Biocontrol will require nearer a $3-5M budget ($300K < 10% required) Long time frames (next generation benefits) Generic issues for all biocontrol programs… history has shown they are usually worth the investment Fireweed Workshop Bega May 08

Biocontrol as a part of integrated management Recommendations Outline Know your target Biocontrol history Biocontrol future? Biocontrol as a part of integrated management Recommendations Fireweed Workshop Bega May 08

Biocontrol as a part of IWM Practitioners consistently argue biocontrol provides a basis for integrated weed management particularly in grazing systems – key focus of CRC Weed Management Systems Defeating the Weed Menace proposal ($800K) in 2005 included biocontrol as a component of developing a larger IWM package built around the Fireweed Regional Weed Management Plan – not funded. Project activities in South Africa can also explore the ecology and status of the plant there and the ecological basis for its lower abundance or how it is managed in the native range. – strategic directions for both agent selection and IWM. Fireweed Workshop Bega May 08

Biocontrol as a part of integrated management Recommendations Outline Know your target Biocontrol history Biocontrol future? Biocontrol as a part of integrated management Recommendations Fireweed Workshop Bega May 08

Recommendations : past and present Detailed surveys of potential biocontrol agents… should …be carried out in…the country identified as the origin of fireweed (McFadyen & Sparks 1996) DNA sequencing to [understand] whether or not the SAf rust fungus is P. lagenophorae [and] Additional screening of rust isolates from SAf .. in the hope of finding isolates that are more virulent to those in Australia (no guarantee of success) (Morin 2003). There is a sound case for further investigation of the potential for biological control of fireweed in Australia (Sindel 2008) Fireweed Workshop Bega May 08

Recommendations : Agent specificity and IWM If no fireweed-specific agents are found a test case could be initiated for release of an agent known to attack a native plant species or group of species (McFadyen & Sparks 1996). economic study of the impact of fireweed on grazing [and] environmental impact study on the impacts of fireweed and any biocontrol agents on native Senecios For biological control agents that are not absolutely specific to fireweed a cost benefit analysis is required to weigh up the case for release of such organisms (Sindel 2008) Search for biocontrol based integrated weed management systems to tackle the increasing fireweed problem in eastern Australia (Morin 2002) Fireweed Workshop Bega May 08

Not much has changed Fireweed Workshop Bega May 08