Smutty Business: Controlling Wandering Trad on the Bega River
Smutty Business: Controlling Wandering Trad on the Bega River
The Bega River and Wetlands Landcare Group (BRAWL) partners with the CSIRO to introduce leaf-smut fungus to control Wandering Trad along the Bega River.
Collaborations -
LP036-001
The issue
Wandering trad (Tradescantia fluminensis) is a significant environmental weed along the Bega River. In recent years, BRAWL have worked to control weeds and improve the biodiversity and amenity along a reach of the river close to Bega township. BRAWL volunteers have made tremendously positive impacts for the flora and fauna and improved the community’s access and enjoyment of the river, however, the challenge of controlling wandering trad remains.
The solution
After years of research and risk assessment, CSIRO are now working with local partners to help release a new biocontrol for wandering trad called “leaf-smut” fungus. BRAWL has partnered with CSIRO to coordinate the release of the leaf-smut trad along the Bega River. Brawl volunteers helped to implant leaf samples with the fungus amongst the wandering trad in their patch. When wandering trad is infected by the leaf smut, the leaves develop lesions that cause the leaves to die. That leaf will then produce fungal spores that then move on to another leaf. The leaf-smut reduces the overall foliage and the ability for the plant to photosynthesise and reproduce. Extensive trials have shown that native plants are not affected by the fungus.
Significant reduction of the invasive ground cover will likely take around two years and BRAWL will work with CSIRO to monitor the effectiveness of the leaf-smut.
The impact
This project builds engagement of Landcare volunteers with research. By forming a partnering with Landcare volunteers, there is greater stewardship over the project in the local community.
The Bega River is one of several sites where the fungus is being released and follow-up monitoring by Landcare volunteers will provide important feedback. The spread of the fungus is slow and in temperate climates like Bega, infection of the surrounding plants will likely take between 3-6 months. The leaf-smut fungus will hopefully reduce the need for mechanical or chemical weed control and a reduction of the weedy ground cover will improve native vegetation and habitat for native species along the river.
Key facts
- Wandering trad forms dense carpets on the river banks, smothering native vegetation and reducing habitat for native animals.
- BRAWL volunteers introduced the fungus infected weed into patches of wandering trad along the Bega River.
- BRAWL members hope that the fungus will reduce the wandering trad along the river and allow them to concentrate their efforts into controlling other weeds and rehabilitating native vegetation.