General Topic AbstractsGeneral Topic AbstractsAnon. 1997 Parthenium weed (Parthenium hysterophorus) Pestfact PP2. Qld Gov., Brisbane.
Holman, D.J & Dale, I.J. 1981. Parthenium weed threatens Bowen Shire. Qld Ag. J., 107: 57-60.
Navie, S.C., Panetta, F.D., McFadyen, R.E., & Adkins, S.W. Longevity of buried and surface-lying seeds of parthenium weed. In Press.
Parsons, W.T. & Cuthbertson, E.G. 1992. Noxious Weeds of Australia. Inkata Press, Melbourne. 692 pp.Stuessy, T.F. 1977. Heliantheae, a Systematic Review. In "The Biology and Chemistry of the Compositae". Vol. II. ed. V.H. Heywood, J.B. Harbone & B.L. Turner, Acad. Press, London.
Towers, G.H.N. and Subba Rao, P.V. 1992. Impact of the pan-tropical weed Parthenium hysterophorus L. on human affairs. In: Proc.1st Int. Weed Control Congr. Melbourne.(Ed. R.G. Richardson) p.134-138, Melbourne, Australis.
Tudor,G.D., Ford, A.L., Armstrong, T.R. and Bromage, E.K. 1982. Taints in meat from sheep grazing parthenium weed. Aust. J. Exp. Agric. Husb.,22: 43-46.
Chippendale, J.F. and Panetta, F.D. 1994. The cost of parthenium weed
to the Queensland cattle industry. Plant Protection Quarterly 9: 73-76.
In Queensland, parthenium weed commonly dominates cultivated and other disturbed areas,
in addition to flood-prone pastures. The presence of parthenium in cropped lands can
almost double cultivation costs and restrict the sale and movement of contaminated
produce. In 1990 – 1991, a mail survey of beef producers was conducted in the most
heavily infested region in central Queensland. Annual losses caused by this weed were
found to be in the vicinity of $16.5m. Losses comprised opportunity costs (e.g. reduced
stock numbers and liveweight gains), as well as additional production and control costs.
Increased expenditure on research into parthenium control (especially biological control,
for which research expenditure was approximately $350 000 during 1990 – 1991) is thus
warranted.
Navie, S.C., McFadyen, R.E., Panetta, F.D., Adkins, S.W., 1996. A Comparison of the
Growth and Phenology of two Introduced Biotypes of Parthenium Hysterophorus pp.
313-16 in Proc. 11th Aust. Weeds Conf., R.C.H.Shepherd (ed.) Weed Sci. Soc. Victoria,
Frankston.
These differences in biology may offer an explanation why the central Queensland
biotype is very aggressive while the south-east Queensland biotype is relatively well
contained.
Two biotypes of Parthenium hysterophorus L. have established in Australia as a
result of two separate introductions from the USA. The first introduction occurred in
south-east Queensland and the second in central Queensland. Nine plants from each of the
biotypes were grown under a day/night temperature regime of 23/13°C and 14.5 hour
photoperiod in a plant growth cabinet for a period of five months. Plants from the central
Queensland biotype had a higher dry weight production, earlier stern elongation, were
taller; produced larger diaspores and had a lower percentage of filled seed than the
plants from the south-east Queensland population.
Adkins, S.W., Navie S.C., McFadyen R.E, 1996, Control of Parthenium Weed (Parthenium
Hysterophorus L.): A Centre for Tropical Pest Management Team Effort pp.573-578 in
Proc. 11th Aust. Weeds Conf., R.C.H.Shepherd (ed.) Weed Sci. Soc. Victoria, Frankston.
The studies on biology and ecology involve the characterization of ecotypes using
genetic finger printing techniques, investigating the role of allelopathy, seed banks and
phenological attributes in the weeds persistence mechanism(s). Process-based simulation
models and geographical information systems are used to monitor and predict future spread.
Biological control is developed and enhanced through the use of plant feeding insects and
pathogens. Extension is carried out through the already existing networks of the CTPM and
the central Queensland Parthenium Action Group (PAG).
The work undertaken at CTPM builds on earlier work undertaken by the University of
Queensland (UQ), the Queensland Department of Natural Resources and the CSIRO. The CTPM
provides the framework and some financial assistance for the co-ordination and integration
of these studies on parthenium weed.
In Queensland, parthenium weed commonly dominates cultivated and other disturbed areas,
in addition to flood-prone pastures. The presence of parthenium in cropped lands can
almost double cultivation costs and restrict the sale and movement of contaminated
produce. In 1990 – 1991, a mail survey of beef producers was conducted in the most
heavily infested region in central Queensland. Annual losses caused by this weed were
found to be in the vicinity of $16.5m. Losses comprised opportunity costs (e.g. reduced
stock numbers and liveweight gains), as well as additional production and control costs.
Increased expenditure on research into parthenium control (especially biological control,
for which research expenditure was approximately $350 000 during 1990 – 1991) is thus
warranted.
Parthenium weed (Parthenium hysterophorus L.) is an annual herbaceous plant
native to the tropical Americas, which now occurs in south and east Africa, southern Asia
and Australia. In Australia it has become widespread in grazing land from central
Queensland to northern New South Wales. It causes direct losses to the grazing industry
(about $A 14-18 million per annum) and is a human health hazard, causing allergic rhinitis
and contact dermatitis. Starting in 1976, the Queensland Department of Lands (now Natural
Resources, DNR) has had an on-going campaign to reduce the spread and impact of this
public nuisance. However, the weed has never-the-less continued to increase and spread.
Chemical control is possible but is too expensive to control all infestations over such
large areas. Biological control is feasible and the search for natural control agents is
on-going. The Centre for Tropical Pest Management (CTPM) seeks to develop and implement
cost-effective, environmentally friendly methods of control for parthenium weed. This is
achieved through collaborative research and technology exchange and concerns the topics of
biology and ecology and biocontrol. An additional component is looking at ways of
transferring the knowledge generated into the agricultural community.
Navie, S.C., McFadyen, R.E., Panetta, F.D., & Adkins, S.W. 1996.
The biology of Australian weeds. 27. Parthenium hysterophorus L. Plant Prot.
Quart. 11:76-88
This review contains a general overview of parthenium and the problems it causes,
and includes details on distribution, reproduction, hybrids and population dynamics. A
discussion on the management of Parthenium hysterophorus is also provided.
Biological Control AbtractsDhileepan, K., Madigan, B., Vitelli, M., McFadyen, R.E., Webster, K.
& Trevino, M. 1996. A new initiative in the biological control of parthenium. pp.
309-12 in Proc. 11th Aust. Weeds Conf., R.C.H.Shepherd (ed.) Weed Sci. Soc. Victoria,
Frankston.
The new initiative program on the biological control of parthenium is currently mapping
the distribution of various biocontrol agents in Queensland, and assessing the role
of already established biocontrol agents in controlling the weed populations. The
stem-boring weevil Conotrachelus sp. and the stem-boring moth Platphalonidia
mystica both from Argentina are being released in the central Queensland region. In
addition, two new root-feeders, Carmenta ithecae and Thecesternus hirsutus, which
are being imported from Mexico will be host-tested. The newly formed Parthenium Action
Group is involved in the distribution and field evaluation of already established
biocontrol agents in the central and northern Queensland regions.
Parthenium is an extremely prolific weed and causes severe economic loss, health
problems and habitat destruction in Queensland. Biological control of the weed is the only
cost-effective, environmentally safe and ecologically viable method available. Eight
species of exotic insects have been introduced into Australia for the biological control
of parthenium weed, of which at least six species arc known to be established. The
stem-galling moth Epiblema strenuana, the stem-boring weevil Listronotus
setosipennis, and the leaf-mining moth Bucculatrix parthenica are the species
that are successfully established in most of the parthenium infested areas of Queensland,
while the leaf-feeding beetle Zygograrama bicolorata and the seed-feeding weevil, Smicronyx
lutulentus appear to be established only in the central Queensland region.
McClay, A.S., Palmer,W.A., Bennett, F.D., Pullen, K.R. 1995.
Phytophagous arthropods associated with Parthenium hysterophorus (Asteraceae) in
North America. Environ. Entomol. 24:796-809
A faunal survey was conducted to find possible biological control agents for Parthenium
hysterophorus L. (Asteraceae), a serious annual weed in many parts of the world,
particularly Queensland, Australia, and India. Between 1977 and 1991, most of the plant's
native range in North America was surveyed from bases at Monterrey and Cuernavaca, Mexico,
and Temple, TX. Two hundred and sixty-two phytophagous arthropod species were collected on
P hysterophorus by various methods including hand picking, dissection, rearing, and
sweeping; 144 of these species were found to feed on the plant at some stage of their life
cycle. The orders represented most abundantly were Coleoptera (33.2%), Homoptera (22.9%),
Lep-idoptera (20.2%), and Hemiptera (18.3%). Two fungal pathogens, Puccinia abrupta Dictel
and Holway variety partheniicola (Jackson) Parmelee and Puccinia melampodii Dictel
and Holway, were also observed. An index of similarity was used to make pairwise
comparisons between the phytophagous arthropod communities on different plant taxa. These
comparisons showed that the fauna of P hysterophorus is most similar to that of
ragweeds (Ambrosia spp.). Six insect species that were shown to be stenophagous
were shipped to Australia for further testing and possible field release. One of the
fungal pathogens underwent host-range testing in the United Kingdom and was released in
Australia.
McFadyen, R.E. Cruttwell 1992. Biological control against
parthenium weed in Australia. Crop Protection, 11: 400-407.
Parthenium hysterophorus is an annual herbaceous plant native to
the tropical Americas, which is widely adventitious and now occurs in East Africa, parts
of Asia and Australia. It is a major crop and pasture weed in India and Australia in
particular, where it is also a human health hazard, causing allergic dermatitis and
respiratory problems. A biological control programme involving the introduction of insects
from the Americas started in Australia in 1975 and is still in progress. Six species of
insects have been released, of which four are established but only one, the moth Epiblema
strenuana, is exerting significant control on the weed. The moth larvae form galls in
the parthenium stems and shoots; damage by several larvae stunts plants and reduces seed
production. Unfortunately, the erratic climate interferes with the control: long dry
periods reduce the moth population to very low levels so that when the parthenium
germinates after rain there is inadequate control. Efforts to establish other biocontrol
agents are continuing in Australia. India rejected E. strenuana because of attack
on Guizotia abysinnica in tests, but has successfully established the leaf-feeding
chrysomelid Zygogramma bicolorata with promising results. Other insects evaluated
in Australia are available and should be tested for use in India and other countries with
a parthenium problem.
Health AbstractsMcFadyen, R.E. 1995. Parthenium weed & human health
in Queensland. Australian Family Physician 24: 1455-58.
Allergic reactions to the pollen and plant dust of the parthenium weed are
causing major health problems in central Queensland, which can be expected to increase,
especially as the pasture weed is rapidly spreading south. This paper reviews published
information on health aspects of this weed and calls attention to its spread into areas
with much greater population.