Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 12.6
Carmenta nr.
ithacae adult
parthenium nursery sites in central Queensland recently, but not in sufficient num-
bers to indicate its widespread field establishment or potential impact.
The leaf-mining moth
Bucculatrix parthenica
Bradley (Lepidoptera:
Bucculatricidae), a highly host-specific agent native to Mexico, was released in
Australia from 1984 and its field establishment was confirmed in 1987 (McClay
et al. 1990). The leaf-mining moth became established widely in both central and
north Queensland, but failed to establish in southeast Queensland. Damage is caused
by the larval feeding, which is evident on all growth stages of parthenium. The insect
is rare in Mexico, but has become abundant in Queensland at some sites.
The winter rust
Puccinia abrupta
Diet. & Holw. var.
partheniicola
(Jackson)
Parmelee (Uredinales), collected from the semiarid, upland regions (1400-16,000 m
above sea level) of Mexico (Evans 1987, 1997a), was the first pathogen to be
released on parthenium in Australia. It is a highly host-specific pathogen (Parker et al.
1994; Taye et al. 2004a; Tomley 1990) and its release in Australia began in 1991 and
continued till 1995. The winter rust became established only in a few localised areas
in central Queensland (Dhileepan and McFadyen 1997) with long dew periods and
cooler temperatures (Fauzi et al. 1999), but its impact on parthenium in these areas
appears to be not significant (Dhileepan 2003). This agent did not establish in north
Queensland with warmer and drier conditions (Dhileepan et al. 1996).
The summer rust
Puccinia melampodii
Dietel and Holway (Uredinales)
(Fig. 12.7) collected from low-altitude regions of Mexico (Evans 1997a; Seier et al.
1997; Tomley 2000) is highly host specific, damaging and adapted to areas with
high temperatures and limited periods of humidity (Holden et al. 1995; Seier 1999;
Seier and Tomley 2000). However, its incidence in Mexico was highest during the
wet season. Field release of the summer rust in Queensland commenced in January
2000 (Dhileepan et al. 2006). Field establishment of the summer rust was evident
in 88% of the release sites in Australia (Dhileepan et al. 2006). As predicted, this
rust became established immediately, but with higher prevalence and intensity in
north Queensland than in central Queensland. However, the impact of summer rust
