Project

Principal researcher and research collaboration

Harvest weed seed management workshops and evaluation of the Harrington Seed Destructor

The project will develop and promote harvest weed seed management systems for south-east Australia, northern New South Wales, southern and central Queensland. Within this is the continued development of the Harrington Seed Destructor as a new mechanical at-harvest weed seed destruction system.

Associate Professor Michael Walsh, University of Western Australia

Collaborators - Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (Qld), Department of Agriculture and Food (WA), Tamworth Agricultural Institute, Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute 

Golden Dodder- developing a novel detection method using DNA& aerial imagery

This project aims to develop two cutting-edge technologies to help detect contaminated seed, detect new infestations of Golden Dodder, and map/monitor existing infestations in agricultural and natural resource areas. Golden Dodder causes serious economic damage in many crops in temperate regions around the world. In Australia, it directly threatens the lucerne and white clover seed industries and is a potential threat to potato, onion, carrot, tomato and lettuce growing. 

Dr John Heap, South Australian Research and Development Institute

Bio control of prickly acacia: host specificity testing of new agents from India

The project will test a scale insect as a bio-control option for prickly acacia, which is a Weed of National Significance, and is widespread throughout the grazing areas of western Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia. The tests will be managed alongside the trial of a leaf-webbing caterpillar, which will be funded by the Queensland Government and Meat &Livestock Australia. Both agents have been approved for importation from breeding colonies in India.

Dr Kunjithapatham Dhileepan, Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (QLD)

The weight of the vine: Impacts of vine infestations on plant health

Exotic woody vines are common along edges of fragmented habitats and some species are particularly destructive and becoming increasingly common, but a lack of knowledge of the degree and type of damage these vines cause is hampering the development of appropriate management strategies. This project aims to fill research gaps by undertaking a significant survey across the distribution of Madeira vine and cat's claw creeper to identify levels of infestation and damage.

Dr Kris French, University of Wollongong

Weed Risk Assessment for Australian Nursery & Garden Industries

This project will utilise an existing weed risk assessment system developed for Australia's Botanic Gardens, known as Botanic Gardens Weed Risk Assessment Procedure (WRAP), to screen 1000 common ornamental taxa cultivated in Australian nurseries for sale to the public to ascertain the degree of weed risk associated with each species. It is envisaged that this project will lead to the development of an Australian white list of low risk ornamental taxa, which is a list of safe plants to cultivate for production, distribution and sale to the general public by production nurseries across Australia.

Dr Anthony Kachenko, Nursery Garden Industry Australia

Collaborators - Royal Botanic Gardens, South Yarra; NSW Department of Primary Industries

Risk assessment and management of paraquat resistance in the pasture seed industry

This project will attempt to define the extent of paraquat resistant annual ryegrass in pasture seed production fields. The project will examine practices used in the pasture seed industry to determine the risks of resistance to paraquat and other herbicides. A workshop will be held with agronomists, growers and others in the pasture seed industry to deliver the outcomes of the research and identify strategies for better managing resistance.

Dr Christopher Preston, University of Adelaide

Management of glyphosate resistant weeds in non-agricultural areas

This project will develop strategies to reduce the risks of glyphosate resistance occurring on land managed by local councils, railways, transport authorities, and water authorities in Australia. Glyphosate resistant weeds have already been reported from railways in WA, roadsides in SA and irrigation channels in NSW. Preliminary research will be conducted on glyphosate-resistant weeds under controlled conditions to identify alternative herbicides or herbicide mixtures that may provide effective management of glyphosate resistant weeds.

Dr Christopher Preston, University of Adelaide

Collaborators - Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (QLD), Department of Agriculture and Food (WA), Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute, Tamworth Agricultural Institute

Weed management under dry seeding and permanent residue farming practices

Weed management is the number one issue facing a no tillage farming system across Australia. Not only are growers losing a weed management tool in tillage, but the evolution of herbicide resistance has led to limited weed control options. This project will investigate, through a series of field applied trials across Western Australia and the use of computer modelling, weed management practices that will enable growers to dry seed and retain stubble.

Dr David Minkey, Western Australian No-Tillage Farmers Association

Collaborators - Department of Agriculture and Food WA, Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative

Just how bad are coastal weeds: assessing geo-eco-psycho-socio-economic Impacts

Exotic plants seem to easily invade Australia's coastal fringe and there has been little research on the multi-faceted impact of such plants. This project will collate existing information on the impacts of coastal plant invaders in Australasia and undertake formal research on impacts that have received the least attention. Research will be conducted by a multidisciplinary team, including ecologists, economists, psychologists, sociologists and geomorphologists, interacting with state governments, CMAs, shires and local communities. The purpose of the project is to provide guidance for more strategic approaches to the management of coastal weeds and more effective use of limited resources.

Professor Roger Cousens, University of Melbourne

Innovations in institutions to improve weed funding, strategy and outcomes

The aim of this study is to investigate opportunities to streamline and broaden the laws relating to weed management, reshape the coordinating structures, build in economic feedback loops that increase accountability, create new markets for weed control, reform the intelligence approaches that are used, and create more effective collaborative governance with the industries that are concerned. The outcome of the research will be an integrated set of institutional reform proposals, intended to stimulate debate and further focused research, designed to show how contemporary natural resource governance institutions and institutional thinking might be applied to better enable weed professionals to deliver the public and private benefits that are sought from their work.

Professor Paul Martin, University of New England

Collaborators - University of Melbourne; Department of Primary Industries, CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Sydney University of Technology

Integrated weed management in vegetable crops: gap analysis and development of a Research, Development and Extension Plan

This project involves conducting a gap analysis of integrated weed management R,D&E in Australian vegetable crops followed by development of a strategic plan to guide investment in weeds RD&E to fill the gaps.

Dr Lauren Thompson, Scholefield Robinson Horticultural Services Pty Ltd

Collaborators - University of Adelaide; Charles Sturt University, DPI Victoria

Weed control in aerobic rice to increase water efficiency 

This project aims to re-invigorate rice weed control R&D in Australia after many years of contraction due to prolonged drought. It will develop robust weed control programs for aerobic rice culture in southern and northern Australia that ensures freedom from weed competition during the critical early stages of crop growth.

Mr Malcolm Taylor, Agropraisals Pty. Ltd

Collaborators - Rice Research Australia Pty Ltd; Industry and Investment NSW

How do decisions by stakeholders affect weed distribution at a landscape scale?

Some of Australia's worst weeds exist on private land where control of damaging invasive plants is undertaken by multiple independent decision makers, each managing only a small part of the total invasion. Thus, each land manager's decisions have the potential to affect invasion risk for the rest of the community and human motivations and behaviour become important drivers of invasion dynamics. This project aims to improve weed control at the landscape scale by enhancing the efficacy and adoption of existing control measures. It will achieve this by increasing understanding of the affects economic and social drivers have on individual weed managers and how these motivations interact with the ecology and impact of the weed.

Dr Yvonne Buckley, University of Queensland

Collaborators - University of Western Australia

Expanding the aquatic herbicide list: a proactive approach

Invasive aquatic plants have become problematic in lakes, rivers and reservoirs across Australia. To prevent degradation of water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, and the reduction of biodiversity, weed control within these systems is paramount. A key impediment, however, to aquatic weed management is a lack of chemical tools to effectively control many of the invasive species. This collaborative national project will seek input from key individuals from state and federal agencies involved in aquatic weed management to investigate potentially new and safer herbicides, improve efficacy and efficiency of existing herbicides, develop a herbicide risk assessment to reduce adverse effects on aquatic systems and in the long-term integrate methods that overall reduce reliance on chemicals.

Dr Joseph Vitelli, Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (Queensland)

Collaborators - DPI Victoria, Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Department of Agriculture and Food WA

Sustainability of wheat-selective pre-emergent herbicides in a changing climate

This project will increase understanding of the genetic basis of resistance evolution with a particular focus on reduced herbicide rates. The researchers consider that reducing herbicide input should not be associated with rate cutting practices. The information generated by the project will be used in advising farmers, agronomists and consultants to minimise the risk of herbicide resistance occurring especially with new or yet-to-be released herbicides. It will improve understanding of the need to avoid cutting herbicide rates below labelled guidelines, to maximise herbicide efficacy and avoid poor weed control.

Dr Robert Busi, University of Western Australia

Suppressive plants as part of an integrated management program for parthenium

Parthenium weed has now been accidentally introduced to over 30 countries worldwide. In Australia, the weed covers approximately 60 million ha. The management of parthenium weed in Australia is based on a biological control approach in which 11 agents (nine insects and two rusts) have been released. This project will undertake research to supplement biological control with new approaches to integrated weed management including sowing plants in the landscape to help suppress the growth and reproduction of parthenium.  Initial work has identified a number of suppressive plants that that not only suppress parthenium weed, but also provide good fodder and in some cases are native to Queensland.

Dr Stephen Atkins, University of Queensland

Collaborators - Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (Queensland), South West NRM Queensland.

Tools for adoption of optimal weed management strategies in cropping systems

This project will take stock of the role of crop-weed decision support tools in broad-acre cropping systems, run workshops with consultants and leading growers with new project tools and develop recommendations for further development of decision support for weed management by grain growers. The APSIM model, developed by CSIRO and partners, is the leading model in Australia and around the world for use as a research tool and decision support system for growers and advisors. Among other things, the project aims to improve current modules and develop new modules in APSIM for key weed species that credibly simulate the use of resources and competition with crop production. The ability to incorporate prediction of yield loss and weed seed set (potential seedbank replenishment) for the particular seasonal conditions would be highly valuable in informing decisions about in-crop and late-season weed seed management decisions.

Dr Michael Robertson, CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences

Collaborators -  Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (Queensland), University of Adelaide, University of Western Australia

Biological control of weedy sporobolus grasses by the fungus nigrosporaoryzae

Nigrosporaoryzae is a naturally occurring fungus that is pathogenic to giant Parramatta grass (GPG) in the field, causing a crown rot disease. GPG is one of five weedy sporobolusgrasses  found in Australia. It is proposed to develop protocols for the culturing of commercial quantities of N. oryzaespores once host specificity testing has been successfully completed. Research will be conducted into the best methods for field inoculation into disease free GPG infestations and continue to monitor the development of natural inoculations in the field.

Dr David Officer, NSW Department of Primary Industries

Collaborators  RMIT Melbourne,

Biological control of sea spurge phase 2

Sea spurge (Euphorbia paralias) is a significant environmental weed of the coastal regions of southern Australia. This project will build upon earlier work on sea spurge funded by the Department of Primary Industries and Water, Tasmania and CSIRO, which identified potential biological control agents and confirmed these agents did not already exist within Australia. This project will assess two of these potential agents, both fungi, at the CSIRO laboratory in France to determine if they are sufficiently specific and virulent to be investigated further as biological control agents.

Dr John Scott, CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences Collaborators - University of Melbourne

Diagnostic tools for detection of non target site herbicide resistance

Australia has the largest herbicide resistance problem in the world due to evolution of resistance in Loliumrigidum. The objective of this proposed project is to develop Liquid Chromatograph-Mass Spectroscopy methods to replace current methods for qualitative and quantitative analysis of major herbicide metabolism in important resistant Australian weed species (e.g. annual ryegrass, wild oats). The major goal is to establish a quick and sample diagnostic method (or a biomarker) to determine and monitor the extent and frequency of non-target-site metabolism based herbicide resistance in Australian major weeds.

Dr Qin Yu, University of Western Australia

Collaborators - ChemCentre (WA)

Cabomba ecology and dispersal in Australia

This research program is designed to help obtain a better understanding of the ecology and dispersal of cabomba in Australia and fill large gaps in knowledge of this aquatic weed.Detailed knowledge about the ecology and dispersal of cabomba is necessary to predict likely habitats where it could establish. A predictive capacity will allow concentration of monitoring efforts to areas deemed as high risk, and therefore will improve the likelihood of detecting cabomba infestations in an early stage when successful removal from a site is still a viable proposition.

Dr Tobias Bickel, Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (QLD)

Biological control of Hudson Pear in Australia.

Cylindropuntiarosea (Hudson pear), is an invasive cactus of central Mexican origin which poses a threat to agricultural enterprises, biodiversity conservation and human and animal health.
An integrated control campaign against C. rosea would benefit from the addition of the proposed biological control agent Dactylopiustomentosus.  This project intends to continue the quarantine host specificity testing already under way in DEEDI quarantine, as well as conduct searches for additional strains of cochineal in Mexico.

Dr Royce Holtkamp, NSW Department of Primary Industries

Collaborators -Biosecurity Qld, Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (QLD)

Genetic, reproductive and demographic facilitation of Sagittaria invasion

Sagittaria is an aggressive aquatic invader across Australia with three species, S. platyphylla, S. montevidensis and S. calycina, now established in most states. This broad distribution indicates that Sagittaria eradication is no longer feasible and that new management approaches are required. This project will integrate national and international research expertise from four institutions (CSIRO, La Trobe University, DPI Victoria and US Army Corps of Engineers) to generate critical information on Sagittaria biology. The research will underpin the development of biological control agents that will reduce herbicide reliance and provide effective landscape-level management tool.

Dr Linda Broadhurst, CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences

Collaborators - DPI Victoria

La Trobe University

Evaluate fitness costs in herbicide resistant annual ryegrass

This research seeks to quantify the presence and extent of resistance fitness cost associated with several resistance endowing mutations in Lolium.Resistance cannot occur without resistance genes but some resistance genes are associated with other adverse effects, termed fitness costs. Understanding resistance gene fitness costs is helpful in predicting the speed at which resistance can evolve and, conversely, the speed at which resistance might regress if herbicide selection ceases.

Professor Stephen Powles, University of Western Australia

Containment of invasive plants: a basis for decision making & best practice

This project will build on preliminary research undertaken to establish a scientific foundation for decisions relating to containment as a strategic option for managing invasive plant species. It will facilitate sound decisions about when containment is the most appropriate objective, how feasible it will be and how to maximise the prospect of successful containment programs at landscape and regional scales.

Dr Tony Grice, CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences

Collaborators - Department of Environment and Resource Management (Qld)

Weed management on Indigenous lands: Indigenous values, perceptions & capacity

This project will address the issue of weed invasion and weed management on Aboriginal-owned lands in northern and central Australia. The project team will work with Aboriginal land owners in a case study approach, covering examples from North Queensland, the Top End of the Northern Territory and Central Australia. It will describe weed problems on case study lands; identify Aboriginal perspectives on those weeds, including threatened values; compare and contrast them with non-Indigenous perspectives; review weed management activities; and identify ways in which the capacity of Aboriginal owners to address weed issues of concern to them can be improved.

Dr Tony Grice, CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences

Improving prevention and containment of serrated tussock in southwest Victoria

The objectives of the project are to improve the likelihood of effective integrated weed management strategies when dealing with a highly pervasive weed, serrated tussock, that researchersare attempting to contain in a core area. Specifically, it considers the best collaborative management and governances of preventing and mitigating the further spread of an established pest where there are only two discrete options: full adoption and successful prevention/containment, or whereby one recalcitrant stakeholder can lead to unsuccessful outcomes.

Dr Byron Pakula, Roberts Evaluation Pty Ltd

Managing weeds on native title lands

Through a series of national workshops coordinated by AIATSIS, Registered Native Title Body Corporateshave identified the need for increased knowledge and understanding of their land management responsibilities, including weed management.  However, there is no long term strategy for weed management on native title lands.The main objective is to generate a baseline understanding of weed management on native title lands.

Dr Jessica Weir, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies

Invasion and impact of high biomass grasses (HBG) in Queensland

Thirteen high biomass grasses occur in the savannah woodlands and associated habitats of Cape York, the eastern Gulf country and the Wet Tropics. While only three species are declared weeds, all species appear to have the potential to invade large areas of the northern savannahs and woodlands. However, their current distributions are poorly known, as are their rates of spread and factors affecting the invasion processes. This project will aim to improve understanding in four key areas which will support policy decisions, prioritisation processes and management options for HBGs in Queensland specifically,and across tropical Australia more generally.

Dr Daniel Metcalfe, CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences

Desert uplands committee weed research management

The Desert Uplands Committee Weeds Research Project aims to reduce the current and future impacts of two ground weeds, Parthenium (Partheniumhysterophorus) and Mother-of-Millions (Bryophyllumdelagoense), on Australia's inland pastoral rangelands and their near-intact ecologies, particularly the Lake Eyre catchment.  

• 1. Ms Robin Adams, Desert Uplands: Build-Up and Development Strategy Committee

Manipulating weed successions when restoring native vegetation communities: Riverina Murray Area

Development, demonstration and adoption of simple, effective and affordable methods of weed management will enhance the establishment, growth and survival of native vegetation by direct seeding.

Mr Malcolm Taylor, Regional Development Australia-Murray

Collaborators - Murray Catchment Management Authority

Improving regional adoption of weed control- a case study in the New England

This project, through collaboration with regional and national partners, will: establish a framework to engage with relevant sectors of the community in two contrasting rural pastoral regions; identify the barriers and incentives to adoption of weed control across individuals and institutions in the New England and compare these with barriers and incentives from the Southern Tablelands of NSW; identify strategies, processes and actions that may be able to be implemented and trialled to overcome adoption constraints; and identify priorities for future funding stages to improve weed control adoption through R, D and E.

Professor Brian Sindel, University of New England

Biodegradable weed management using agricultural wastes

This pilot project will undertake a feasibility study of using agricultural waste as part of a regional cost-effective integrated weed management strategy and will be presented as a report to governments and industry for future investment in developing capability and capacity in invasive weed management.CSIRO will manufacture 500m of Weed Mat from Hemp / Flax / Kanaf fibres using nonwoven technology in its Fibre Science and Engineering plant in Geelong Victoria. This Weed Mat will be provided to industry growers in two locations - Northern Rivers NSW, one of the biggest growing regions in NSW, and Jandakot / Canning Vale WA.

Dr Menghe Miao, CSIRO Materials Science & Engineering

Collaborators - AgEconsPlus, Synerge Pty Ltd