New biocontrol opportunities for prickly acacia: exploration in India
The project New Biocontrol Opportunities for Prickly Acacia: Exploration in India focused on researching natural agents that control prickly acacia in India.
Prickly acacia (Acacia nilotica ssp. indica) is a significant weed in Australia, particularly across the Mitchell Grass Downs in western Queensland. To enhance current chemical and mechanical control methods, researchers explored biological control options abroad.
Studies indicated that Australia’s prickly acacia likely originated in India. This MLA-funded project aimed to identify natural control agents, such as insects and pathogens, that naturally infest or infect prickly acacia in India. Researchers conducted a systematic survey in the plant’s native range, prioritized promising biocontrol agents, and assessed their host specificity and non-target risks under quarantine conditions.
The project delivered more cost-effective management strategies for prickly acacia, integrating host-specific biological control agents with existing chemical and mechanical approaches.
For more information, please read the final report summary and download the final report (B.NBP.0371) (PDF, 437 KB) from the Meat & Livestock Australia website.
When: 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2015
Contact: Dr Kunjithapatham Dhileepan
Collaborators: Department of Agriculture and Fisheries; Arid Forest Research Institute; Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding; CABI Europe-UK