~ the NEWSLETTER ofThe Weed Society of New-South Wales Inc

ISSN 1325-3689

#10JULY 1997

HerbicideResistance -Serious Problem orNew- Opportunity?

here would be few landmanagers who have not nowheard about herbicide

resistance, particularly in Australiawhich is said to have the highest levelof herbicide resistant weeds in theworld. Since it was first identified in1970, much has been claimed aboutthe threat that it poses to weed control,particularly in agriculture. In thisarticle, Dr Chris Preston evaluates thisperceived threat and what can be doneabout it.

FEATURE ARTICLE

WEED SOCIETYEXECUTIVE

John Cameron(President)

Dan Ausfm(Vice President)

Leon Smith(Secretary)

Alex McLennan(Treasurer)

Brian Sindel(Newsletter Editor)

Mike BarrettGary BcchagMike BouitonLouise BrodieJim Dellow

Richard GrahamLawrie GreenupGraham Harding

Mike HoodJane Mallen-Cooper

Peter MichaelAllan MurphyRobert Plumbe

Val StubbsGordon TinkJohn Toth

Bob Trounce

Editor:. Brian SindelDepartment of Agronomy

and Soil Science,University of New

England, Armidale 2351Ph: (067) 733 747

Fax: (067) 733 238 Emall:bsindel@metz.une.edu.au

Secretary: Leon Smith.8 Darwin Drive,

Lapstone 2773Ptgfax: (047) 393 564

,,4 Gnod ~//eed is publishedfour times per year bythe Weed Society ofNew South Wales,

PO Box 438Wahroonga 2076.

Printed by the Universityof New England

Packaged by the ChallengeFoundation in recycled

plastic

... HerbicideResistance -Serious Problemor NewOpportunity?

By Chris Preston

Sometimes a herbicide application does notcontrol weeds as well as was expected. Thereare several reasons why this might be so.Firstly, the environmental conditions mayhave been wrong (e.g. rainfall soon afterapplication, excessively cold or dryconditions). Secondly, the herbicide mayhave been improperly applied (e.g. nozzlesblocked, use of hard water, incorrectadjuvants). If..such factors are excluded, thefailure may be due to herbicide resistance.The difference between herbicide resistanceand all other herbicide failures is that if youhave resistance, the herbicide will not work inthe future. Resistance is the inherited abilityof weeds fo survive herbicide application.

Where does resistance come from?Usually herbicide resistance is already presentin the weeds in the paddock. In anypopulation of weeds there are a fewindividuals that are different. Theseindividuals can tolerate normally deadlyherbicide applications and survive to produceseeds. Offspring from such plants are morelikely to themselves carry the genes thatconfer resistance.

Repeated applications of herbicideselect out the susceptible strains and favourthe resistant ones so that, after a period oftime, the whole local population of the weedmay be resistant.

Think about the number of ryegrassplants that may be found in a croppingpaddock. If there are ten plants per squaremetre, then every 10 hectares contains 1million plants. On average, one plant in every10,000 in this population is resistant to GroupB sulfonylurea herbicides before any Group Bherbicides are actually used.

How can you detect resistance?Because plants inherit resistance from theirparents, the resistant individuals are firstevident in patches in the paddock where the

seed of the parent plants has germinated.These patches may be elongated in thedirection of harvesting or working thepaddock.

The first clue for most farmers thatthey might have resistance is when theynotice a large patch of weeds in the crop. Ifthis patch consists of only one species, andother susceptible species have beencontrolled, you can be reasonably sure thatyou have a case of resistance.

It is useful to get a resistance testdone, not so much to confirm that you haveresistance, but to find out what herbicidesmight still be useful. This is importantbecause many resistant populations have"cross-resistance"; that is, resistance toherbicides that have not previously been used.Many farmers now do their own cross-resistance spray tests.

Is resistance the end of agriculture aswe know it? No, resistance is the-start of anew way of controlling weeds. Instead ofweed control decisions being based on "whatherbicide at what rate", you now have to planweed control more carefully. What can bedone? The answer to this question fails intotwo categories: methods to delay resistanceand methods to manage it. Resistance can bedelayed by not relying on the same herbicide,or group of herbicides, every year.

When on a good thing, change it!One way of doing this is by rotatingherbicides between the different modes ofaction. Adding other, non-chemicai weedcontrol tactics will also help extend the life ofthe individual herbicides. Managingresistance is little different to delayingresistance, except that you can no longer relyon your herbicide of choice, the one that nolonger works.

There are really no prescriptions formanaging herbicide resistance because eachcase if different. You should do whateverworks for you and fits within your farm plan,but all strategies require the use of non-chemical techniques along with continued useof herbicides.

Techniques include increasingseeding rates, planting a more competitivecrop cultivar or pasture species, changingrotations, changing planting dates, collectingor burning weed seed and strategic use oflower risk and non-selective herbicides.Whatever approaches you choose, your newintegrated strateg~ for managing weedsshould become a part of your overall farmplan.

page2 AGaodWeed #10JULY1997

FEATURE ARTICLE

Current state of resistance in Australia

Weed Species

¯

¯

¯

¯

¯

¯

¯

¯

¯

¯

¯

¯

¯

¯

¯

Annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum)Wild oats (Avena fatua, Avenasterilis)Barley grass (Hordeum leporinum)Barley grass (Hordeum glaucum)Large crabgrass (Digitariasanguinalis)Indian hedge mustard (Sisymbriumorientale)African turnip weed (SisymbriumthellungiOLondon rocket (Sisymbrium iro)Climbing buckwheat (Fallopiaconvolvulus)Common sowthisfle (Sonchusoleraceus)Long-fruited turnip (BrassicatournefortiOShort-fruited turnip (Rapistrumrugosum)Wild radish (Raphanusraphanistrum)Prickly lettuce (Lactuca serriola)Dirty dora ( Cyperus difformis)Arrowhead (Saggitaria motevidensis)Starfrttit (Damasonium minus)Liverseed grass (Urochloapanicoides)Capeweed (Arctotheca calendula)Silvergrass (Vulpia bromoides)

AXX

X

X

Herbicide GroupB C D F L _MX X X X X

X

X

XX

X

X

X

X

i~ X~ X

X

XX

XX

XX

Group A: Hoegrass, Verdic, Targa,Topik, Fusilade, Puma, Correct, Sertin,Achieve, Select, Fusion, etc.Group B: Glean, Ally, Logran, Oust,Spinnaker, Arsenal, Eclipse, Broadstrike,etc.Group C: Simazine, Atrazine, Diuron,Sencor, Bladex, Br0moxynil, etc.Group D: Treflan, Rival, Stomp, Yield,etc.Group F: Brodal, Amitrole, etc.Group L: Reglone, Gramoxone, SpraySeed, etc.Group M: Roundup, Touchdown, Pacer,etc. Q

(Reprinted from Under Control, Pest Plantand Animal Management News, No. 2, May1997, and the Crop Science Society of SouthAustralia Newsletter, No. 153, February199Z Dr. Christopher Preston is a Lecturer

in the Department of Crop Protection,University of Adelaide.)

Flea Beetles Jumpinto a Feed ofPaterson’s CurseBy Blair Grace

A new insect has just been released to attackPaterson’s curse. The joint effort betweenthe Keith Turnbtffi Research Institute andCSIRO Division of Entomology hassucceeded in rearing the Paterson’s cursetaproot flea beetle, Longitarsus echii, insufficient numbers to set up nursery sites forthe first time in Australia.

AGoodWeed #10JULY 1997 page3

FEATURE ARTICLE

This has been the fifth attempt torear these beetles in quarantine. They havebeen difficult to breed in the laboratory, butnew methods have led to better results and itis hoped that we frill be able to rear largernumbers in the future.

The beetles have been released attwo sites in Victoria, two sites in New S. outhWales and one site in the ACT: B~etlesfrom these sites will be collected for releaseat new infestations in winter nextIyear.Suitable sites need to be well dralne"d andhave a dense infestation of Paterson’s cursewith a low priority for control.

These small beetles (3 mm long)earn their nickname ’flea beetles’ by usingtheir powerful back legs to jump distancesof up to one metre. The larvae (grubs) feedin the taproot of the plant, resulting insmaller plants which produce less seed.They remain in the soil as pupae oversummer when Paterson’s curse has died off.Adults emerge in winter when rosettes arepresent, and start laying eggs within a fewweeks.

Tyro species of insects are currentlyestablished for biocontrol of Paterson’scurse. A moth, Dialectica scalariella,mines the leaves and causes occasionalheavy damage. The crown weevil,Mogulones larvatus, is also beginning tohave an impact. The root weevil M.geographicus is not yet well established.

These small beetles (3 mmlong) earn their nickname’flea beetles’ by using theirpowerful back legs to jumpdistances of up to 1 metre.

Three more insect species are dueto be released over the next few years. Asmall beetle, Meligethes planiusculus, willfeed on the flowers, another larger beetle,Phytoecia coerulescens, will bore out thestems, and an even smaller flea beetle,Longitarsus aeneus, will feed on the roothairs. All these insects should combine toweaken the weed by attacking most parts ofthe plant throughout its growing season.

(Reprinted from Biocontrol ServicesVictoria News, No. 5, Nov 1996. NB. BlairGrace has recently moved from Victoria toNSW to begin a PhD at the University of

New England on the Ecology andManagement of Saffron Thistle in Pastures.)

Don’t let [heAlligator (Weed)LooseBy Lalith Gunasekera

Alligator weed (Alternantheraphiloxeroides), native to South America, hasbeen described as one of the world’s worstweeds because of its voracious growth habit,its ability to survive in both aquatic andterrestrial habitats (amphibious) and growvegetatively from plant fragments. It wasfirst found in Australia at Newcastle, NSWduring the 1940s, growing in ballast heapsdumped by wartime shipping.

Alligator weed has a very similarappearance to another plant found inAustralia, in the same familyAmaranthaceae, named Alternantherasessilis. This is a popular leafy vegetable inSri Lanka called ’mukunuwenna’ (ormukunawatma), butbotanically it iscompletely different.

Recent investigations in Brisbane,NSW and Victoria have detected alligatorweed in some home gardens where it isbeing grown as a leafy vegetable. Therecould be some confusion amongst the SriLankan community between the leafyvegetable grown in Sri Lanka and alligatorweed growing in Australia. The flowers ofalligator weed are large (10 mm across) andare carried at the ends of the leafy stems.Flowers of mukunuwerma are small (lessthan 5 mm across) and are borne in clustersin the leaf axils.

Alligator weed has the potential todo more damage to our rivers, irrigatedagriculture and wetlands than any otherwater weed in Australia. Unlike other waterweeds in Australia (e.g. Salvinia) it has thepotential to spread over a very wide areaand threaten our agricultural production,export incomes, major river systems andwetlands.

(Reproduced in. part from BiocontrolServices Victoria News, No. 5, November1996.)

page 4 ~,�~’e~ #10 JULY 1997

WEED WATCH

Weed WatchWarning.

I Common eider, Sambucus nigraI

By Kate Blood

The recent report to the National Herbariumof Victoria of another introduced plant,common elder or elderberry, Sambucusniger, proliferating in Victoria highlights theneed for an improved early warning systemfor weeds. Common elder originated inEurope. It is already naturalised in NewZealand, West Asia, North Africa andTasmania and has now established onprivate property near Mansfield in north-eastVictoria.

Sambucus is in the familyCaprifoliaceae which includes otherenvironmental weeds suchas Japanesehoneysuckle (Lonicera japonica),,.Himalayan honeysuckle (Leycesteriaformosa) and laurestinus (Viburnum tirius).In New Zealand, other introduced membersof the family which have becomeenvironmental weeds include snowberrybush and coral berry (Symphoricarpos ’spp.)while Sambucus pubens, a close relative ofcommon elder, has become naturalised.There are at least seven introducedSambucus species in cultivation in Australia.Victoria has two indigenous species,Sambucus australiasica and S.gaudichaudiana. Herbaria should be able toassist in correct identifications.

Common elder is a deciduous shrubor small tree to 10 m tall, often with atwisted, form and arching branches. Itsopposite leaves (to 12 cm long) usually have5-7 leaflets with a rather unpleasant smell.Very young leaflets are dark purple butquickly turn to green as they mature. Theshoots are grey-brown with corky warts(lenticels) and white pith. The fragrantflowers (November to January) are in a largeflat-topped cluster, 10-20 cm in diameter, atthe end of the branchiets. They have whiteor yellowish-white petals and are usuallyinsect-pollinated. Flowers are followed bypendulant bunches of berries, each 5-8 mmacross, in late summer and early autumn, atfirst red, but ripening to shiny black with thefruit stalks remaining red. The fruits are

eaten by birds, which assist in thedistribution of the seed. In New Zealand,there is little variation in the wild exceptthat some plants, variety viridis, have greenflower branches and green ripe fruit.

Observations from England suggestthat the plant establishes mainly on baredground. It appears that seedlings aresensitive to competition from someperennial herbs and to grazing by stock.Once established, the plant is rarely grazed -elder contains cyanogenic glycosides andthe unpleasant odour from crushed tissuemakes it unattractive to eat. The leaves aretoxic to mammals, however, the ripe fruitshave been used for making elderberry wineand jelly.

Common eider may persist inshaded sites but few flowers and fruits areformed. In the United Kingdom, the speciesis heavily dependent on vegetationboundaries and clearings, where fruit andseeds can be formed, to aid its regeneration.Plants are resilient to coppicing and cuttingsappear to root readily. Gardening bookssuggest that common elder is frost-resistantbut drought-tender. Infestations can betreated by hand removal or cutting thebushes and painting the stumps with anappropriate herbicide. Encourage peoplewith this plant in their gardens to replace itwith something non-invasive. Also, urgenurseries to stop sale, promotion anddistribution. If found in natural ecosystems,send a specimen immediately to your Stateor Territory Herbarium and notify therelevant agency to encourage its removal.Also, assist local volunteers caring for localvegetation in the identification andtreatment of this new weed.

AGo~dWeed #10JULY 1997 page5

FROM THE MEDIA

WeedWatch is a program beingdeveloped by the Cooperative ResearchCentre for Weed Management Systems incooperation with all the States andTerritories of )xustmlia to improveprevention and early intervention activitywith new and expanding weeds. Byreporting and recording these weedsquickly, we can prevent them beco~ningwidespread, help to conserve indigenousbiodiversity, protect industries and sauce theAustralia community millions of dollars.

(Reprinted from Under Control, Pest Plantand Animal Management News, KeithTurnbull Research Institute for IntegratedPest Management, No. 2, May 199Z)

Nurseries HelpOutBy KateBlood

Nurseries around Australia will soon behelping the environmental weed causethrough the development of anenvir0nmentally-friendly nursery awardscheme. Co-operating nurseries will berecognised for agreeing not to sell, Promoteor distribute plants on a specified list ofenvironmental weeds. Although such.programs are in their infancy in Australia,New Zealand has for some years operated asimilar scheme, the Forest Friendly Awards,which has helped reduce the spread ofenvironmental weeds.

Fewer existing or potential weedswill have the opportunity to escape fromgardens into bushiand if gardeners areeducated about the plants they put into theirgardens and the appropriate ways to disposeof garden refuse. Some States andTerritories have already started workingwith their local nursery industries to addressthis important issue.

Kate Blood, Environmental WeedEducation Coordinator with the CooperativeResearch Centre for Weed ManagementSystems, is helping to coordinate a nationalnursery award scheme by llaising with NewZealand, State and Territory agencies andthe nursery industry. If you would like to beinvolved, contact Kate on (03) 9785 0128.

(Reprinted from Under Control, Pest Plantand Animal Management News, KeithTurnbull Research Institute for IntegratedPest Manageraent, No. 2, May 199Z)

In the News’Herbicides to be banned’Friday 27 June - According to the ABCdaily National Rural News program, 84registered brands of glyphosate herbicidesare now banned from use around aquaticareas. The National Registration Authority(NRA) has put new guidelines in place,following a review that found the chemicalswere killing frogs and tadpoles. Monsantoclaimed that its ’Roundup Bioactive’ will bethe only glyphosate formulation registeredfor aquatic use.

The Registration Authority’ sChemical Review Manager, Dr Joe Smithwarned that companies will have to abide bythe rules. He said that no aquatic uses willbe-registered or will be permitted unless theNRA has that data and is satisfied that itdemonstrates the aquatic safety. Forglyphosate products for which there are noclaims, it must be clearly stated on thelabels that that is the situation, that is, it isnot to be used in or around aquaticsituations.

’Government foreshadowspesticide clampdown’Thursday 31 July - According to a report inThe Land newspaper by Kellie Penfold,fines of up to $60,000 could be imposed onpeople for damage to neighbouringproperties, people or the native environmentthrough incorrect use of pesticides if newlegislation proposed by the EnvironmentalProtection Authority (EPA) is accepted byState Government.

According to Dr Jane Mallen-Cooper, of the EPA, proposed amendmentsinclude giving greater powers to inspectors(such as on-the-spot fines), a definition ofdamage to people, animals and land bypesticides, and tough licensing laws foroperators of commercial sprayingbusinesses. The changes will also lead toan upgrading of. chemical instruction labelsand it may become illegal to disregard thoseinstructions whatever the user’s intention.

page 6 ,~u~We~ #10 JULY 1997

Weedbuster Week12 - 19 October 1997-

Weedbuster Week will be held throughoutAustralia from 12 to 19 October 1997 to raiseawareness about weeds and the problems theycause.

In NSW, the Week will be coordinated byNSW Agriculture. ’

The aim of Weedbuster WeekThe aim of Weedbuster Week is to give land caregroups, bush care groups, local government,state government, schools, catchment groups andothers the opportunity to promote their weedcontrol activities and raise awareness in theirlocalcommunities.

We would like to invite your organisation to take~partin the activities.

We welcome feedback and suggestions. Pleasepass this bulletin on to others who you think may beinterested in participating.

Type of activityThe~type of activity could be a field day, a weedcon,trol demonstration, seminar, workshop, schoolactivity, weed clean-up at a local creek or park, orany other weed control related activity.

issues to consider if you are holding a weed clean-up event are:¯ set targets which will be achievable and rewarding¯ choose a site which will be publicly visible¯ ensure safety of participants¯ utilise best practice* consider follow up treatment* consistency with local programs.

Take the opportunity to consult with a local NSWAgriculture Officer. They will advise on appropriatebest practice, necessary preparation, fNIow-up, andthe possible involvement of other NSW Ag staff.Advice should also be sought on replanting or other

PublicityWe encourage any organisation involved to generatepublicity about their own weed control projects.

If you are organising an event in your area, please fillin the form overleaf and return it to us, so we caninclude your event in the Australia-wide list of eventswhich will be sent to the media.

State-wide media releases will be sent out fromOrange prior to and during the Week.

Promotional materialWe will be offering a promotional kit comprising ofposters, Weedbuster badges, balloons, stickers andother promo-tional ’bumff’ ~" ~

~. NSW Agriculture

Further information

For further information, please contact :

Bob Trounce, Weeds AgronomistNSW AgricultureLocked Bag No 21ORANGE NSW 2800

Phone (063) 91 3156 Fax (063) 91 3605

Email address ¯ trouncb @agric.nsw.gov.au

Weedbuster WeekRegister for list of events and promotio-nal kit

Group/organisation

Contact name/Site representative

Address

Telephone number

Local NSW Ag contact(for advice on best practice)

........................................................ Fax number ................................................

Name of event or activity ..............................................................................................................................

Date & time of activity

Location of activity

Telephone number foractivity/event contact

Description of activity(e.g. targeted weeds,duration, intendedtreatment/activity)

Site prep assistanceBefore/after

What should participantsbring (if required)

Cost to participate (if any) ..............................................................................................................................

Proposed local mediacoverage ..............................................................................................................................

I would like to receive a promotional kit (including list of events) r--] (please tick box)

Please fill out this form and return it to the address below, before 29 August 1997.

Please return to:

Bob Trounce, Weeds AgronomistNSW AgricultureLocked Bag No 21ORANGE NSW 2800

W1

Aquatic Weeds Workshop & Field Day_Wednesday, October 1, 1997

IIII!I

Morning SessionRyde College TAFE

Parkes Street,Ryde

Lm

Afternoon SessionSite Trip to

Auburn Botanic Gardens& Carnarvon Golf Club

¯ practical, hands on identification of aquatic weeds

¯ guided field tours to inspect aquatic plants in theirnatural environrnent

"I~HE ~rEED SOCIE~OF NEW SOUTH WALES INC.

REGISTRATION FORM

~t ATRI(02) 9736 1233

WEEDS Wet & WildWednesday, October 1, 1997

Fax ATRi [](02} 9743 6348 ATRI, PO Box 190,.

Concord West, NSW, 2138

FULL DAY $200 $180AFTERNOON SESSION ONLY $’75

*Member of Weed SodeAy of NSW Inc, Club ATRI members, RNSWBA and NSWGA affiliated dubsRegisWatlon Fee Inc2udes: Tuition, copy of course notes and morning tea. Lunch is not provided.

1. Nominate registration category (.ple~.~ ~’) [] Standard r-I Member/Affiliate2. Registration Deta~s

1. Name:

Position:

2. Name:

Position:

Employer=.Address:

Phone: (bus) Fax:

3. Payment (please.�)E] Please find enclosed our cheque for $[] Pleura invoice clublcompany.

Order No. (if applicable)r-I Ple~.~ charge tl~s purchase to my credit card. Myfull card number:.

M~ El Bankcard [] Visa [] (pl~as~ ~’)

I, II II I I I IIExpiry Date:

Cancellations:

Should you uanoe~ w~irt 5 woddng days of an event, d,ocumentation~ll ~ provided but no refund apples. Cance~ahons receded prk~ to5 woddng days ate subject, .to a processing fee of 10%. ATRI andThe Weed Society of New South Wales Inc rese~’ve tt~’dght touanoeJ this event due to inadequate industry suppod.

I I I I I ! I I I ISignature of ~ardholder:

MORNING SESSION- Presenter: Dr Peter MichaelRyde TAFE (Numbers limited to 30)

8.00 Group 1 Registration * Microscopes= Keys & Notes¯ Identification

8.308.459.00

Introduction and ObjectivesUse of Microscopes

10.15

10.45

Practical Session: Detailed Identification of key aquatic weeds,including the free-fioating water hyacinth and salvinia, thefloating attached alligator weed and the submerged and emergeparrot’s feather, using Keys and NotesMorning TeaPractical Session: Examination of a Range of Important Aquati.cWeeds

12.00 Lunch at Ryde TAFE

2.45

3.00

AFTERNOON SESSION

[ FIELD TRIPField Trip to Auburn Botanic Gardens, Auburn to 2 SITES& Carnarvon Golf Club, Lidcombe1.00 Group 1 assemble to board bus and depart for Auburn Botanic

Gardens siteGroup 2 Registration at Auburn Botanic Gardens site

1.30 Group 1 arrive Duck Creek and join Group 2Groups assemble for site information

Site Manager: Warren Lancett, Auburn CouncilSite Leader: Gary Beehag, ATRITechnicaL. Dan Austin, Manager, Eag!e Environmental

Services2.30 Group 1 & 2 depart Auburn Botanic Gardens to travel to

Camarvon Golf Course(Please Note: Group 1 travel by bus provided,Group 2 provide their own transport)Arrive at Carnarvon Golf Club where Afternoon Tea will beserved on arrival

4.15

4.45

Assemble for site information

Site Manager: Craig Easton, Superintendent,Carnarvon Golf Club

Site Leader: Mike Boulton, Weeds Society of NSW Inc.(or Mike Barrett)

Technical: Melinda Ierace, Environmental Project Officer,Bankstown City Council

Close of session, Group 1 board bus to return to Ryde TAFEArrive Ryde TAFE

COURSE DESCRIPTIONThe full day program will consist of twosessions.

The morning session will be apractical identification session at the RydeT .A~E, Parkes Street, Ryde, in a workshopenvironment.

Number of participants will be restrictedto 30. The identification and basic biology ofcommon aquatic weeds (including the free-floating water hyacinth and salvinia, thefloating attached alligator weed and thesubmerged and emergent parrot’s feather) willbe covered using microscopes.

The presenter is Dr Peter Michael.Detailed notes and keys will be provided.

The afternoon session will consist ofguided field tours at two locations to inspectaquatic plants in their natural environmentsand other plants along water-courses and

The two locations are Auburn BotanicGardens, Auburn and the Carnarvon GolfClub, Lidcombe. Management strategies ateach location will be discussed by the relevantpark managers and other experts.

This Workshop and Field Day offerstwo types of registration - please

see details below.

REGISTRATION DETAILS

Group 1 - FULL DAY registrationNumbers limited to 30

Includes:morning workshop with microscopes and tuition byDr Peter Michael

¯ afternoon field trip to two sites Auburn BotanicGardens and Carnarvon Golf Course

¯ bus travel to field sites from Ryde TAFE and return, lunch, morning and afternoon teas¯ notes and keys

Group 2 - HALF DAY registrationNo limit on numbers.

Registration is for the afternoon session only, you joinGroup 1 for the field tours to the Auburn BotanicGardens and Carnarvon Golf Club.Includes:¯ introductory talks at each site"¯ site maps and history .¯ afternoon teaPLEASE NOTE: Group 2 attendees provide their owntransport.

SEE OVER FOR REGISTRATION FORM

LOCAL NEWS

Members MatterWe welcome the following new members tothe Society and ask that. if you have anynews or views which might be helpful ifprinted in A Goad ~Oe.ed, then please sendthem to the Editor (address page 2). Allcontributions and suggestions are mostwelcome.

Balranald Shire Council, Balranald;Margarita Clayton, St Ives;David Costello, East Albury;Peter Cregan, Charles Sturt University,Wagga Wagga;Tom Dunlop, Engadine;DP Elliot, Wagga Wagga;Giles Flower, Charles Sturt University,Wagga Wagga;John Francis, Wagga Wagga;Andrew Hodge, Parkes;Susan Homer, Bilgola Plateau;JD Horsburgh, Culcairn;Melinda Ierace, Woolich;David Kemp, NSW Agriculture, Orange~ "Loryk Korzeniowski, Baulkham Hills ShireCouncil, Castle Hill;Anna Larsson, Cronulla;Marita Macrae, Avalon Beach;Kevin Mathers, Middle Cove;Peter Matthews, NSW Agriculture, Temora;Kate Mazenauer, Blaxland;John Owens, Wagga Wagga;Joan Parnell~ Warriewood;Pat Pike, Mt Colah;Karen Rahbone, Gunnedah;Lyn Rees, Port Macquarie;Grant Roberts, Australian Cotton ResearchInstitute, Narrabri;Jennifer Roxboroush, Northbridge;Roger Shead, Maclean;Kirrily Smith, NSW Agriculture,Cootamundra;Marilyn Smith, Carlingford;Steve Sutherland, Wagga Wagga;Neal Thorpe, Mortdale;Peter Valensise, Hosking Landscapes PtyLtd, Terrey Hills;Birgitte Verbeelg NSW Agriculture, WaggaWagga;Kyla Watts, Yowie Bay;Garth Wlekson, Wagga Wagga;Jann Williams, Charles Sturt University,Albury; andMark Williams, Blue Mountains CityCouncil, Katoomba.

If you require membership formsfor the Society to give to friends orcolleagues then please contact the Secretary.Newly designed forms are now available.

Are you interested in a membershipscroll (for framing etc.)? The idea has beenmooted and the Executive of the Society arekeen to get your views on it. One ideawould be to charge ia small fee for thosemembers wanting one. Contact theSecretary with your Views.

Riverina Branchof the WeedSociety FormedA meeting was held at the Wagga WaggaWinery on 15 May 1997 to form a Riverinabran.ch of the Society. A total of 40 peopleattended the meeting with 38 furtherapologies. A talk was given by our guestspeaker Professor Alistair Robertson -Charles Sturt University on ’Weeds in theReal World’.

President of the Weed Society,John Cameron, and Vice-President, DanAustin, travelled from Sydney to attend themeeting. The following branch committeewas elected.

President:Richard Graham, Charles Sturt University(WaggaWagga). Phone: 069-332138 Fax:069 - 332812Vice-President:Jann Williams, Charles Sturt University(Albury). Phone: 060 - 529622 Fax: 060 -519897Secretary:Birgitte Verbeek, NSW Agriculture. Phone:069 - 381911 Fax: 069 - 381809Treasurer:Mark Gardiner, Wagga Wagga CityCouncil. Phone: 069- 235257 Fax: 069-235396Publicity Officer:Toni Commens, CRC for Weed ManagementSystems. Phone: 069 - 332178 Fax: 069 -332924Committee Members:Steve Sutherland, NSW Agriculture. Phone:069 - 230424 Fax: 069 - 230429

AGsodWeed #10JULY 1997 page 11

BOOKS

Andrew Hodge, Farter Centre forConservation Farming. Phone: 069 -381941 Fax: 069-381809Peter Matthews, NSW Agriculture. Phone:069 - 771277 Fax:- 069 - 772333Garth Wickson, Cyanamid Agriculture PtyLtd. Phone: 069 - 256038 Fax: 069 -256039John Francis, H. Francis & Co. Phone,": 069- 26366 Fax: 069 - 216493 ~Neil Hibberson, Holbrook Shire Council.Phone: 060 - 362155 Fax: 060 - 362,683Doug Elliott, North Wagga Rural SkillsCentre. Phone: 069 - 395000 Fax: 069 -395025Cheryl Paton, Murrumbidgee LandcareFacilitator. Phone: 069 - 230528 Fax: 069- 230672

A farmer representative is also to be electedto the committee.

Our first committee meeting washeld on 19 June at the Charles SturtUniversity, Thurgoona Campus at Albury.It was decided at this meeting that we wouldrun a field.day at the Agricultural ResearchInstitute., at Wagga Wagga on Wednesday15 October 1997. The field day will be runin conjunction with NSW Agriculture, theCRC for Weed Management Systems andCharles Sturt University.

Smile displays, fielddemonstrations and talks will be given onthe day covering the areas of "weedidentification, weeds in remnant vegetation,weeds in perennial pastures and foragelegumes, herbicide tolerance in crops,competitive wheat crops, herbicide residuesin stubble, bioherbicides for thistles,herbicide resistance screening, fumitory,wild radish and wild oats.

A field walk at Wagga Wagga’sWillan’s Hill looking at environmentalweeds and remnant vegetation is also to beheld later in the year.

There is much enthusiasm andexcitement surrounding the formation of thisbranch of the Weed Society. Keep youreyes and ears open for future informationabout what we are doing.

We are working to raise communityawareness and education about weeds, theircosts and how to manage the problems thatweeds present to our community. We wantpeople to come along and participate inevents, talk to the experts in the field andlearn from their experiences.

If anyone requires furtherinformation about what the Riverina Branchis doing, please contact Toni Commens ontelephone (069) 332178 or facsimile (069)332924.

AGM and DinnerThe Annual General Meeting and Dinner ofThe Weed Society of New South Wales Inc.is to be held on Thursday, October 23, 1997in the Wentworth Room at the ParramattaLeagues Club, Parramatta.

The AGM will be held at 6pro andwill be followed by the Annual Dinner - 7for 7.30pro. Dr Jim Cullen, Deputy Chiefof the CSIRO Division of Entomology,Canberra, will be the guest speaker at thedinner. He will give an illustrated talkabout ’Recent Advances in BiologicalControl of Weeds’.

The cost will be approximately $30per head. Last year a most interestingaddress was given by Dr Jim Kells fromMichigan State University about’Developments in Weed Management in theUSA’ and this year’s address will be just asstimulating.

Contact the Secretary for furtherdetails.

Other’Good Reads’

World Weeds: Naturalt~stories and DistributionLeRoy Holm, Jerry Doll, Eric Holm, JuanPancho and Haines Herberger.

John Wiley & Sons, New York,1997, hardback, 1129 pages, ISBN 0-471-04701-5, Available in Australia throughJacaranda Wiley, Brisbane, for Australian$350.00.

LeRoy Holm and his co-workershave become well known and respectedamong weed scientists throughout the worldover the last twenty years for two very

page 12 ~’e~ #10 JULY 1997

BOOKS

important books - The World’s Worst Weedsin 1977 and A Geographical Atlas of WorldWeeds in 1979. The former reviewed thebiology, world distribution and impact of 88of the world’s most important weeds, whilstthe latter provided information on the worlddistribution and country-by-countryimportance of about 8,000 weeds. The sameauthors have now provided us with yetanother major reference book, this timereviewing a further 126 major weeds of theworld. The series is unlikely to be betteredor even equalled for its scope and detail, andall three books will continue to be consultedand referred to for many years to come bythose fortunate enough to have access tothem.

The introduction to World Weeds:Natural Histories and Distribution suggeststhat the authors set out to identify andreview the most important weeds of theworld and that, after reviewing 212 of these,they feel that their joint endeavour is largelyaccomplished. The selection of speciesincluded in The World’s Worst Weeds andWorld Weeds: Natural Histories " and ~Distribution reflects the authors’ overviewof the world’s weeds in their GeographicalAtlas of World Weeds and the species thatthey have selected are those that have themost adverse impacts on agric, ulturalcropping, including rice and other wetlandcrops and tropical plantations.

World Weeds: Natural Historiesand Distribution is modelled on The World’sWorst Weeds but goes much further,reviewing the biology, agricultural impactand global distribution of 126 major weedsnot included in The World’s Worst Weeds.Nearly all of the species in the latest bookare significant weeds somewhere inAustralia, and many of them occur as weedsin most of our States. The majority areannual grassy and broadleaved herbs ofagriculture, including Australian weedyspecies of Alopecurus, Amaranthus,Brassica, Carduus, Chenopodium, Cirsium,Coronopus, Cuscuta, Cyperus, Datura,Digitaria, Euphorbia, Hordeura, Lamium~Nicandra, Orobanche, Oryza, Papaver,Physalis, Poa, Polygonum, Raphanus,Setaria, Silybura, Sonchus, Trianthema andUrtica. Important perennial weeds ofAustralian cropping and pastures includeAlternanthera philoxeroides, Cardariadraba, Chondrilla juncea, Eleocharis spp.,Pteridium (aquilinum), Stachytarphetajamaicensis and Taraxacurn officinale.

Aquatic weeds include Azolla pinnata,Elodea canadensis, Hydrilla verticillata,Lemna minor, three species of Ludwigia,three of Potamogeton, Spirodela polyrhiza,t#�o of our Typha species and Vallisneriaspiralis. Australian woody weeds includeCassia (Senna) tora and occidentalis andUlex europaeus.

Each of~the ~eviews is drawn fromvery extensive literature searches andsurveys, together with personal contact withresearchers in the !~field, and the globaldistribution maps are drawn from the samesources. The maps record those countriesand states for which each species has beenrecorded as a weed, inevitably leading tosome questions as to the value of the mapreferences (e.g. are Senecio vulgaris andChrysanthemum leucanthemum really weedsin Queensland?) but, as the authors pointout, the maps are indicative of global ratherthan local distribution.

The review of each species followsa fairly standard layout, starting with astatement of its origin and globalimportance, a description of the plant and itsvariations, its habitat/s and globaldi~bution, and a generally very detaileddescription of its biology and ecologyincluding reproduction, germination,growth, flowering and pollination, fruitformation, dispersal and dormancy,physiology, uses (if .any) and other relevantinformation. Poptilati0n dynamics areconsidered where known, as are the plant’scompetitive abilities and impacts, the effectsof various control methods (but not detailsof its chemical control) and, whereappropriate, the development and types ofresistance to herbicides. The agriculturalimportance of each weed is fully consideredand additional sections are provided whereappropriate, e.g. for nitrogen fixation inAzolla, haustorial anatomy in Cuscuta,pharmacology of Datura and toxicity ofHeliotropium and Pteridium. Each review isaccompanied by a detailed line drawing ofthe plant and a map of its global distributionas a weed (by States for Australia).

The reviews are followed by acomprehensive bibliography listing over3,300 references, including those of manyAustralian weed scientists. An extensive listis provided of common scientific names ofthe weeds included in the text and the bookis completed by a comprehensive index.

World Weeds: Natural Historiesand Distribution is and will remain for many

AGoodWeed #10JULY 1997 page 13

DIARY NOTES

years an essential reference for Australianweed scientists. It should be available in thelibrary of every relevant research station,university and technical college and on theshelves of more-isolated weed scientistsworking in the agrochemical, agricultural,horticultural, plantation and aquaticindustries. Although it will never becomeout of date, it will, unfortunately, be, tomeout of print. Despite its price, I stronglyrecommend access to World Weeds:Natural Histories and Distribution ;to allAustralian weed scientists.

J.T. Swarbrick

CSIRO Handbook ofAustralian WeedsM. Lazarides, K. Cowley and P. Hohnen

Weeds are everywhere. Theyplague our crops and pastures, threaten theviability of many plant communities, reduceour enjoyment of natural areas, and providea never-ending source of work in ourgardens..-

c~mpilation of the Handbook hasbeen a~hieved through a comprehensivesearch of recent scientific publications,including taxonomic monographs andrevisions, Australian, State and regionalflora treatments, and regional or specialisedstudies on specific plant groups of economicsignificance. -.

This book is essentially an updatedsubset of the data contained in the CSIROHandbook of Economic Plants of Australia.It lists names of Australian weeds with asmall, amount of other relevant information.

The scientific name, together withthe preferred common name, is annotatedwith additional information on economicuses, life form and characteristic features ofhabit, geographic distribution and, in manyspecies, comments on noteworthy features.

The distribution of each weedwithin AusWalia is indicated at the Statelevel on shaded, computer-generated maps.

Features include an easy to usecross-referenced index of common andscientific names; an up-to-date authoritativelisting of correct scientific and preferredcommon names of over 2750 weed species;a broad interpretation of weed to includedeliberate and accidental introductions andindigenous invasive weeds; plantdistribution data at a State level available ata glance; and a quick reference source for a

range of information, including uses, lifeform and distribution.

1997, 272 pp, illust, paperback, 0643 05981 4. Available from CSIROPublishing Australia, - PO Box 1139,Collingwood, Victoria 3066, phone (03)9662 7666, fax (03) 9662 7555. Cost is$49.95 plus $8 for handling and postage.

Upcoming EventsThe Sixteenth Asian.Pacific Weed ScienceSociety ConferenceHilton Hotel in Kuala Lurapur, Malaysia,from 8-12 September, 1997.

The Asian-Pacific Weed ScienceSociety is our regional weed science group,covering the largest area of any regionalweed science society (from Iran to the westcosts of North and South America) and morepeople than any other regional weed sciencesociety. Conferences are held in a differentcountry every two years (the next will be inthe Philippines in 1999) and are the mostimportant regional forums for meeting andexchanging news, techniques and ideasamong weed scientists throughout theregion.

The theme of the conference isIntegrated Weed Management TowardsSustainable Agriculture. Half-day sessionswill cover Weed Biology and Ecology,Progress in Herbicide Research andDevelopment, Advances in theBiochemistry, Physiology and Performanceof Herbicides, Herbicide Resistance and itsManagement, Weed Management in FoodProduction Systems, Weed Management inPermanent Agro-ecosystems, IntegratedWeed Management with Biological ControlApproaches, and Education, Training andDecision-making. Each half-day sessionwill start with a plenary lecture beforedividing into three concurrent sessionsrelating to the topic. There will also be fourdifferent full day excursions, eachcombining business with pleasure. Lowercost accommodation is available through theorganisers.

For further information on theconference, the Secretariat can be contactedthrough the Internet viahttpll:www.cc.um:edu.mylconf.html, by faxon 60-3-759-4178 (BH Baker), or email:baki@botany.um.ddu.my. The Editor alsohas a copy of the full program.

page 14 ~,’~ #10 JULY 1997

Landcare: Changing Australia, Adelaide16-19 September 1997Contact: Andrew Curtis, State LandcareCoordinator, GPO Box 1671, Adelaide SA5001, fax: 08 8303 9339,email:landcare @pi.sa.gov.ala

ABC Landline to Feature Weeds12th-19th of October

To coincide with WeedbusterWeek, the ABC Landline television programis to feature a story on weeds. Much of thefilming has been done in NSW so put it inyour diary to watch Landline around the12th-19th of October. The program isnormally screened on Sunday at 12pro and

¯ then repeated on Monday at lpm.

Progress in Spraying Safely andEfficientlyMildura Country Club - Monday 27-Thursday 30 October 1997

The aim of this course is to providetraining which alerts participants toadvances in how to apply agrochemicalsmore safely and efficiently with particularemphasis on vineyard spraying. The valueof GPS in reducing~ inputs will also beexplored.

Specific objectives of the coursewill be to update delegates on formulations,nozzles types and droplet size distribution;improved spray retention; minimising spraydrift; ground positioning systems (GPS) asan aid in pest management and reducingpesticide inputs; and best practices forvineyard spraying.

Further details available from theSecretary, Leon Smith.

Brighton Crop Protection Conference1997, UK17-20 November 1997Contact: DV Alford, ADAS, BrooldandsAve, Cambridge CB2 2BL, fax: 44-1223-455624

DIARY NOTES

AGoodWeed #10JULY 1997 page 15