Submissions sought on a biocontrol for invasive weed

The Environmental Protection Authority is calling for submissions on an application to import and release two rust fungi isolates, Puccinia lantanae and Prospodium tuberculatum, as biological control agents for the invasive weed Lantana (Lantana camara).

The application is being made by Northland Regional Council.

In New Zealand, the weed is particularly prevalent in the Northland region where it forms dense thickets that invade bush edges, pasture, roadsides and wasteland and displaces other vegetation. It can be poisonous to people and grazing stock and also produces fruit that are attractive to birds, causing seeds to be widely spread to un-infested sites.

Northland Regional Council says that the introduction of these two host-specific fungi will reduce the speed of growth, fruit production and survival of Lantana. Their application states that the two rust fungi isolates function differently but should complement each other - Puccinia lantanae is likely to become systemic, leading to stem dieback, while Prospodium tuberculatum is likely to cause leaf-death and defoliation.
Submissions from the public are now being sought.

Submissions can be made by letter, by email to submissions@epa.govt.nz or through the EPA’s website at www.epa.govt.nz.
The full application can be found at www.epa.govt.nz/consultations.
Submissions close on 21 February 2012.

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