African boxthorn biocontrol 2022 - 2023
A pilot project in the Riverina, NSW was conducted to release a rust (Puccinia rapipes) as a biological control for African boxthorn. YACTAC, through the Refreshing Rivers project, and Rice Growers Association (RGA) joined forces to host a demonstration workshop with 10 landholders participating on December 9th, 2022.
Landholders were given a hands-on demonstration using the African boxthorn biological control kit developed by CSIRO. Andrea Mitchell (YACTAC) and Janet Manzin (RGA) took a step-by-step approach to explain how to use the kit and handed one kit each out to attendees. Watch this space for further developments...
African boxthorn (Lycium ferocissimum) is a widespread weed in regional Australia which is native to South Africa. It is difficult to control due to its ability to establish thorny thickets across a broad range of landscapes. Current methods are expensive and the new biological control offers promise as a control method which is safe and cost effective.
