Natural Enemies of Bridal Creeper, Asparagus Asparagoides, in New Zealand

Weeds in Natural Ecosystems

NATURAL ENEMIES OF BRIDAL CREEPER, ASPARAGUS ASPARAGOIDES, IN NEW ZEALAND

H.M. HARMAN1, N.W. WAIPARA1&-:,1.61, L.A. SMITH2, 3*3(7(5621DQG-3:,/.,(1

1Landcare Research, Private Bag 92170, Auckland 1142, New Zealand 2Landcare Research, PO Box 40, Lincoln 7640, New Zealand 3Landcare Research, Private Bag 11052, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand Corresponding author: [email protected] ABSTRACT %ULGDOFUHHSHULVDZHHGRIQDWXUDODQGSURGXFWLYHDUHDVLQWKHQRUWKHUQ 1RUWK,VODQGRI1HZ=HDODQG$FODVVLFDOELRFRQWUROSURJUDPPHZDV LQLWLDWHGLQ²ZLWKDVXUYH\RILQYHUWHEUDWHIDXQDDQGSDWKRJHQV DVVRFLDWHGZLWKWKHZHHGLQ1HZ=HDODQG$OWKRXJKEULGDOFUHHSHUZDV attacked by a wide range of generalist invertebrates, their overall damage DIIHFWHG RIWRWDOSODQWELRPDVV+RZHYHUDVSHFLDOLVWUXVWIXQJXV Puccinia myrsiphylli, which was deliberately introduced into Australia to FRQWUROEULGDOFUHHSHULQZDVGHWHFWHGLQ1HZ=HDODQGIRUWKHÀUVW time. Our surveys indicate that it has spread autonomously over most of WKHZHHG·VUDQJHLQQRUWKHUQ1HZ=HDODQG'DPDJHZDVRIWHQVHYHUH FDXVLQJXSWRSUHPDWXUHGHIROLDWLRQ,WPD\DOVRIRUPDV\QHUJLVWLF disease complex with another widespread primary fungal pathogen of bridal creeper, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. The rust appears to be DQHIIHFWLYHELRFRQWURODJHQWIRUEULGDOFUHHSHULQ1HZ=HDODQG Keywords: environmental weed, classical biological control, plant pathogens, invertebrates, parasitoid, predators.

INTRODUCTION The scrambling perennial vine bridal creeper, Asparagus asparagoides (L.) W. Wight $VSDUDJDFHDHDOVRNQRZQDVVPLOD[LQ1HZ=HDODQGLVQDWLYHWRVRXWKHUQ$IULFD ,WQDWXUDOLVHGLQ1HZ=HDODQGE\WKHHDUO\V (VOHU KDYLQJEHHQLQWURGXFHG earlier as an ornamental garden plant. It is now common in the northern half of New =HDODQGSDUWLFXODUO\1RUWKODQG$XFNODQG:DLNDWR%D\RI3OHQW\DQG*LVERUQH Although less common further south, it can be found in Wairarapa, Wellington, Nelson, %OHQKHLP&KULVWFKXUFKDQG%DQNV3HQLQVXOD6LPLODUO\LQWURGXFHGWR$XVWUDOLDLQWKH VLWKDVQRZQDWXUDOLVHGLQDOOVRXWKHUQVWDWHVRI$XVWUDOLDLQDZLGHUDQJHRIKDELWDWV In both countries bridal creeper is a serious invasive environmental weed (Roy et al. 0RULQ (GZDUGV ,Q1HZ=HDODQGEULGDOFUHHSHULVDZHHGRIIRUHVWPDUJLQVRSHQZRRGODQGVKHGJHVDQG FRDVWDOVORSHV 5R\HWDO:DLSDUDHWDO DQGLVSDUWLFXODUO\LQYDVLYHLQQDWXUDO and productive areas of the northern regions of the North Island. It competes aggressively with other plants by forming dense canopies that block sunlight, and producing thick mats of tubers and rhizomes that prevent seedling establishment of other plants (Esler :LU\VWHPVZLWKOLJKWJUHHQOHDIOLNHFODGRGHVDULVHIURPWXEHUVDQGFDQUHDFK DVKLJKDVPRQVXSSRUWLQJYHJHWDWLRQ6PDOOJUHHQLVKZKLWHÁRZHUVDSSHDUIURP ZLQWHU -XO\$XJXVW IROORZHGE\VWLFN\UHGEHUULHVFRQWDLQLQJEODFNVHHGVLQVXPPHU The leaves and stems tend to die back in summer and re-sprout from tubers and rhizomes in autumn. The plant is spread readily by birds, which eat the berries and distribute seed in their droppings, and by movement of root material through activities such as dumping JDUGHQZDVWH%ULGDOFUHHSHULVWROHUDQWRIDZLGHYDULHW\RIFRQGLWLRQVLQFOXGLQJVKDGH

New Zealand Plant Protection 61: 362-367 (2008) www.nzpps.org

Weeds in Natural Ecosystems making it a highly successful invader of both disturbed and undisturbed habitats including DUHDVWKDWDUHLQDFFHVVLEOHIRUERWKGHWHFWLRQDQGFRQWURO%ULGDOFUHHSHULQIHVWDWLRQVFDQ KDYHGHOHWHULRXVHQYLURQPHQWDOLPSDFWVE\FKDQJLQJWKHVWUXFWXUHÁRULVWLFFRPSRVLWLRQ DQGHFRORJ\RIHFRV\VWHPV 0RULQ (GZDUGV Current control methods for bridal creeper can be both uneconomic and in some VLWXDWLRQVLQDSSURSULDWH 0RULQHWDO %LRORJLFDOFRQWUROZDVSURSRVHGDVD PDQDJHPHQWWRROIRUEULGDOFUHHSHULQ1HZ=HDODQG 6\UHWW DVLWRIIHUVVRPH advantages over current control methods, particularly in areas of high conservation value E\UHGXFLQJFKHPLFDOKHUELFLGHLPSDFWVRQGHVLUDEOHÁRUD DQGLQLQDFFHVVLEOHDUHDVWKDW DUHGLIÀFXOWWRWUHDWFRQYHQWLRQDOO\8QOLNHFXUUHQWFRQWUROPHWKRGVELRFRQWURODOVRRIIHUV continuous action and self-dispersal and it can complement other management strategies. $FODVVLFDOELRFRQWUROSURJUDPPHZDVLQLWLDWHGLQ$XVWUDOLDLQWKHVZKHUHDOHDI rust, Puccinia myrsiphylli, a leaf hopper, Zygina sp. (Cicadellidae), and a leaf beetle, CriocerisVS &KU\VRPHOLGDH KDYHEHHQUHOHDVHG 0RULQ (GZDUGV 7KHUXVW DQGWKHOHDIKRSSHUKDYHHVWDEOLVKHGZLGHO\DQGGHPRQVWUDWHGFDSDFLW\WRVLJQLÀFDQWO\ UHGXFHWKHGHQVLW\RIEULGDOFUHHSHUSRSXODWLRQV 0RULQ (GZDUGV LQGLFDWLQJ WKHLUSRWHQWLDOIRUVXFFHVVIXOELRFRQWURORIEULGDOFUHHSHULQ1HZ=HDODQG As part of the proposed classical biological control programme, a survey of the LQYHUWHEUDWHIDXQDDQGSODQWSDWKRJHQVDVVRFLDWHGZLWKEULGDOFUHHSHULQ1HZ=HDODQG was undertaken. The main aims of the survey were to determine whether any specialist EULGDOFUHHSHULQYHUWHEUDWHVRUIXQJLDUHDOUHDG\SUHVHQWLQ1HZ=HDODQGZKHWKHUDQ\ JHQHUDOLVWLQYHUWHEUDWHKHUELYRUHVRUIXQJDOSDWKRJHQVDUHH[HUWLQJDVLJQLÀFDQWDGYHUVH LPSDFWRQEULGDOFUHHSHULQ1HZ=HDODQGDQGWRUHFRUGWKHLQYHUWHEUDWHSDUDVLWRLGVDQG predators associated with the herbivorous invertebrates on bridal creeper.

MATERIALS AND METHODS Survey of invertebrates on bridal creeper 7KHKHUELYRURXVLQYHUWHEUDWHIDXQDRIEULGDOFUHHSHUZDVVXUYH\HGDWVLWHV WKURXJKRXWLWVUDQJHLQ1HZ=HDODQGEHWZHHQ1RYHPEHUDQG-DQXDU\ $WHDFKVLWHFROOHFWLRQORFDWLRQVZHUHVHOHFWHGKDSKD]DUGO\$FROOHFWLQJWUD\ FP[FP ZDVSODFHGXQGHUVXLWDEOHSDUWVRIVHOHFWHGSODQWVDQGWKHIROLDJHDERYH WKHWUD\ZDVKLWÀYHWLPHVZLWKDVROLGVWLFN,QYHUWHEUDWHVWKDWIHOORQWRWKHWUD\ZHUH FROOHFWHGZLWKDQDVSLUDWRUIRULGHQWLÀFDWLRQ,PPDWXUHOLIHVWDJHVZHUHFROOHFWHGIRU rearing to adults. Foliage growing points and stems were also inspected, along with the WXEHURXVURRWV\VWHPVRIÀYHSODQWVIRUVLJQVRILQYHUWHEUDWHVZKLFKZHUHWKHQFROOHFWHG IRULGHQWLÀFDWLRQ,IIUXLWZDVSUHVHQWDSSUR[LPDWHO\EHUULHVZHUHFROOHFWHGDQG stored in ventilated containers to collect fruit- and seed-feeders. A visual estimate was made of the amount of herbivore-related damage at each site, and likely cause noted. 7KHLQYHUWHEUDWHVFROOHFWHGZHUHLGHQWLÀHGWRVSHFLHVRUJHQXVOHYHO7KH\ZHUHWKHQ ranked on a scale of abundance according to the total number of individuals collected, and the number of sites at which they were present. They were classed as rare, occasional, FRPPRQRUDEXQGDQWDFFRUGLQJWRWKHGHÀQLWLRQVEHORZ rare: IHZHUWKDQLQGLYLGXDOVFROOHFWHGDFURVVDOOVLWHV occasional: ²LQGLYLGXDOVSUHVHQWorSUHVHQWDWIHZHUWKDQÀYHVLWHV common: LQGLYLGXDOVFROOHFWHGandSUHVHQWDWÀYHRUPRUHVLWHV abundant: LQGLYLGXDOVFROOHFWHGandSUHVHQWDWRUPRUHVLWHV Predatory and parasitoid species that may also inhibit biological control agents introduced in the future were also recorded. Survey of plant pathogens on bridal creeper 3ODQWVZHUHDOVRLQVSHFWHGIRUVLJQVRISDWKRJHQGDPDJHDWWKHVDPHVLWHVIURP ZKLFKLQYHUWHEUDWHVZHUHFROOHFWHGSOXVÀYHDGGLWLRQDOVLWHV$WHDFKVLWHSODQWVDW collection points were examined closely for signs of pathogen damage and other bridal FUHHSHUSODQWVLQWKHDUHDZHUHLQVSHFWHGPRUHVXSHUÀFLDOO\IRUREYLRXVGLVHDVHV\PSWRPV 7KHÀYHWXEHURXVURRWV\VWHPVLQVSHFWHGIRULQYHUWHEUDWHGDPDJHZHUHDOVRLQVSHFWHGIRU

Weeds in Natural Ecosystems

IXQJDOGDPDJH$Q\GLVHDVHGOHDYHVOHDISHWLROHVVWHPVÁRZHUVÁRZHUSHWLROHVEHUULHV or roots found were collected for processing. Disease symptoms were recorded and photographed. A dissecting microscope was used to search necrotic areas for diagnostic fungal reproductive structures as well as pustules of the bridal creeper rust (P. myrsiphylli). 6PDOOSLHFHVRIWLVVXHFD[PP LQWRWDO ZHUHFXWIURPWKHHGJHRIGLVHDVHG DUHDVDQGVXUIDFHVWHULOLVHGE\LPPHUVLRQLQK\SRFKORULWHIRUPLQIROORZHGE\WZR rinses in sterile water. These were placed on potato dextrose agar (Difco Labs, Detroit, 0,86$ ZLWKVWUHSWRP\FLQ 6LJPD6W/RXLV0,86$ FRQWDLQHGLQFP3HWUL dishes. Plates were incubated under near-ultraviolet and white light (12 h photoperiod) at WHPSHUDWXUHVRI& GD\ DQG& QLJKW 0LFURFRORQLHVWKDWZHUHLQLWLDWHG IURPWLVVXHIUDJPHQWVZHUHVXEFXOWXUHGIRUIXUWKHULGHQWLÀFDWLRQ RESULTS Survey of invertebrates on bridal creeper 6HYHQW\VL[KHUELYRURXVLQYHUWHEUDWHVSHFLHVZHUHLGHQWLÀHGQRQHRIZKLFKZHUH specialist herbivores of bridal creeper, although the portulaca leaf-mining weevil Hypurus bertrandi UHFRUGHGLQ1HZ=HDODQGIRUWKHÀUVWWLPHDW0DQJHUHLQ$XJXVW ZDVD QRWHZRUWK\GLVFRYHU\,QDGGLWLRQJURXSVRIWD[RQRPLFDOO\UHODWHGKHUELYRUHVFRXOG QRWEHLGHQWLÀHGWRVSHFLHVOHYHO7ZRVSHFLHVSiphanta acuta and Scolypopa australis WKHSDVVLRQYLQHKRSSHU ZHUHFODVVHGDV¶DEXQGDQW· 7DEOH QLQHVSHFLHVRUWD[RQRPLF JURXSLQJVZHUHFODVVHGDV¶FRPPRQ·ZHUHFODVVHGDV¶RFFDVLRQDO·DQGZHUHFODVVHG DV¶UDUH·7KHRYHUDOOGDPDJHDWWULEXWHGWRLQYHUWHEUDWHKHUELYRU\ZDVPLQLPDO,WZDV UDUHWRÀQGDOHDI!FRQVXPHGDQGWKHRYHUDOODPRXQWRIIROLDJHWKDWDSSHDUHGWR EHFRQVXPHGRUGDPDJHGE\KHUELYRUHVZDVHVWLPDWHGWREH 7KHPRVWREYLRXV foliage damage was attributed to moth larvae, especially tortricids (leafrollers) and, to a lesser extent, noctuids. The banana silvering thrips, Hercinothrips bicinctus %DJQDOO (Thripidae), were numerous at some sites and caused silvery-coloured patches on the IROLDJH/LWWOHRUQRGDPDJHZDVREVHUYHGRQÁRZHUVIUXLWRUURRWV 2YHUSUHGDWRUDQGIRXUSDUDVLWRLGVSHFLHVZHUHLGHQWLÀHG0RVWFRPPRQZHUH spiders and a native braconid (Glyptapanteles demeter) respectively. Survey of plant pathogens on bridal creeper A range of disease levels, from mild to severe necroses, was observed on plants sampled DFURVVDOOVLWHV+LJKOHYHOVRIGDPDJHDWVRPHVLWHV XSWRSUHPDWXUHGHIROLDWLRQ of the plant prior to fruit ripening and natural summer senescence) were caused by the bridal creeper rust, Puccinia myrsiphylliIRXQGLQ1HZ=HDODQGIRUWKHÀUVWWLPHGXULQJ WKHVHVXUYH\V :DLSDUDHWDO 7KHUXVWZDVUHFRUGHGRQVDPSOHVIURPVLWHVDFURVV PRVWRIWKHZHHG·V1RUWK,VODQGGLVWULEXWLRQ 1RUWKODQGWR:DLUDUDSD EXWZDVDEVHQW from samples collected from the East Coast (North Island) or the South Island. $WOHDVWIXQJDOVSHFLHVZHUHLGHQWLILHGEDVHGRQFXOWXUDOPRUSKRORJ\DQG reproductive (sporulation) characteristics, after being isolated into pure culture. A second primary pathogen, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, was the most frequently isolated fungal pathogen in the survey. It was primarily associated with a range of stem and leaf necroses, and was twice isolated from the tuber tissues suggesting that infection could have been systemic on some plants. Despite the range of shoot necroses caused by C. gloeosporioides, overall damage to the plant was minimal from this pathogen alone. However, levels of damage by this fungus were higher when associated with UXVWRXWEUHDNVRQWKHSODQW 7DEOH 2IWKHSODQWVDPSOHVWKDWVKRZHGGDPDJHIURP WKHIXQJXVWKHSURSRUWLRQWKDWKDGPHGLXPWRKLJKGDPDJHZDVVLJQLÀFDQWO\KLJKHULQ WKHSUHVHQFHWKDQLQWKHDEVHQFHRIWKHUXVW )LVKHUH[DFWWHVW3 7KHUHPDLQGHU of isolates from symptomatic root and tuber tissues were considered to be secondary, weakly pathogenic or saprophytic with little to no impact on the overall health of bridal creeper. Some weak and secondary opportunistic leaf pathogens were associated with PLQRUVXSHUÀFLDOOHDIVWHPDQGWXEHUQHFURVHVRQEULGDOFUHHSHU1RVLJQLÀFDQWSULPDU\ ÁRZHUSDWKRJHQVZHUHLVRODWHG

Weeds in Natural Ecosystems

TABLE 1: Herbivorous invertebrates collected from bridal creeper in New Zealand during 2005–20071.

Feeding Frequency (no. 7D[RQ6SHFLHV Common name niche VLWHVRXWRI Origin Curculionidae weevils Asynonychus cervinus )XOOHU·VURVHZHHYLO foliage FRPPRQ exotic Delphacidae Ugyops pelorus sap feeder common (6) native Flatidae planthoppers Siphanta acuta green planthopper sap feeder DEXQGDQW exotic Pentatomidae shield bugs Cuspicona simplex green potato bug sap feeder common (9) exotic Nezara viridula green vegetable bug sap feeder FRPPRQ exotic Ricaniidae planthoppers Scolypopa australis passionvine hopper sap feeder abundant (11) exotic Tortricidae leaf rollers Ctenopseustis obliquana foliage occasional (6) native or C. herana XQLGHQWLÀHG7RUWULFLGDH foliage FRPPRQ Gastropoda slugs/snails Cantareus aspersa brown garden snail foliage common (9) exotic Thysanoptera thrips Hercinothrips bicinctus banana silvering thrips foliage common (6) exotic 1$FRPSOHWHDSSHQGL[RIDOOLQYHUWHEUDWHVLGHQWLÀHGIURPWKLVVXUYH\RIEULGDOFUHHSHU LVIRXQGLQ+DUPDQHWDO

TABLE 2: Primary and secondary pathogens observed damaging bridal creeper in New Zealand during 2005-2007.

No. No. /HDIVWHP 7XEHU )ORZHU Fungi sites isolates tissue root tissue fruit tissue Primary pathogens Puccinia myrsiphylli Colletotrichum gloeosporioides 16 Secondary pathogens Alternaria alternata 21 Botrytis cinerea FusariumVSS VSHFLHV 24 Pestalotiopsis sp. 2 4 PhomaVSS VSHFLHV 6 Phomopsis sp. XQLGHQWLÀHGFRHORP\FHWHVSS 611 Ulocladium sp. 1 1

Weeds in Natural Ecosystems

TABLE 3: Symptoms and severity of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides disease on bridal creeper with (+) and without (-) rust infection.

Colletotrichum Colletotrichum (-) rust rust No. No. No. No. Damage Symptoms isolates samples isolates samples minor tuber discolouration 2 1 minor leaf chlorosis 4 minor OHDIVSRWV VSRWVOHDI 424 medium OHDIVSRWV VSRWVOHDI 12 high OHDIVSRWV !VSRWVOHDI high leaf dieback 2 2 high leaf death 2 high stem necroses Total 22

DISCUSSION The bridal creeper rust fungus, Puccinia myrsiphylli, which was released in Australia LQDVSDUWRIWKH$XVWUDOLDQFODVVLFDOELRORJLFDOFRQWUROSURJUDPPHLVQRZSUHVHQW LQ1HZ=HDODQG6LQFHLWVDUULYDOWKHUXVWKDVDXWRQRPRXVO\VSUHDGRYHUPRVWRIWKH ZHHG·VH[RWLFUDQJHLQQRUWKHUQ1HZ=HDODQG%ULGDOFUHHSHUZDVDWWDFNHGDQGGDPDJHG by the rust over its two active growing seasons (winter-spring, autumn). Damage was RIWHQVHYHUHFDXVLQJXSWRSUHPDWXUHGHIROLDWLRQRIWKHSODQWSULRUWRERWKIUXLW ripening and natural senescence. Observations and studies in Australia indicate that the rust is very damaging to bridal creeper with the cumulative effect over several seasons on above- and below-ground biomass and fruit set likely to reduce plant vigour and GHQVLW\ 0RULQHWDO0RULQ (GZDUGV 7KHUXVWDORQHLVWKHUHIRUHOLNHO\ WREHDQHIIHFWLYHELRFRQWURODJHQWIRUEULGDOFUHHSHULQ1HZ=HDODQG)XUWKHUPRUH although the other primary fungal pathogen of bridal creeper detected in this survey, C. gloeosporioides, caused only mild damage to the plant on its own, increased levels of infection and damage by C. gloeosporioides were observed whenever it was found associated with P. myrsiphylli. *LYHQWKHZLGHVSUHDGDQGRIWHQVHYHUHGDPDJHWREULGDOFUHHSHULQ1HZ=HDODQGFDXVHG by the rust, sourcing additional agents for the classical biological control programme is unwarranted until the impact of the rust on bridal creeper populations has been assessed. 6XFKDVVHVVPHQWZRXOGUHTXLUHPRQLWRULQJRIWKHUXVW·VHIIHFWLYHQHVVLQUHGXFLQJWKH VSUHDGDQGWKHELRPDVVRIWKHZHHG$QDSSOLFDWLRQE\(50$1=WR¶GHQHZ·WKHUXVW under the HSNO Act is being pursued, so that it is no longer regarded legally as a new organism. This would allow land managers to actively manipulate the rust to increase ELRFRQWUROHIÀFDF\XVLQJPHWKRGVVXFKDVHDUO\VHDVRQDXJPHQWDWLRQDQGLQWURGXFWLRQ to areas where it has not autonomously spread (e.g. South Island). The legislative change would also allow laboratory studies to assess the impact of the disease. The total amount of damage to bridal creeper foliage at the survey sites that was DWWULEXWHGWRKHUELYRURXVLQVHFWVZDVHVWLPDWHGWREHOHVVWKDQDQGQRQHRIWKH LQYHUWHEUDWH¶KHUELYRUH·QLFKHVRQEULGDOFUHHSHUDUHZHOOXWLOLVHGLQ1HZ=HDODQG Indeed, some niches, such as leaf-mining, are not occupied. Specialised bridal creeper ELRFRQWURODJHQWVDUHWKHUHIRUHXQOLNHO\WRHQFRXQWHUVLJQLÀFDQWFRPSHWLWLRQIURP UHVLGHQWKHUELYRUHV7KHUHLVWKHUHIRUHVFRSHIRUWKHLQWURGXFWLRQRIKRVWVSHFLÀF invertebrate biocontrol agents such as the leaf hopper, Zygina sp., and the leaf beetle, CriocerisVS 0RULQ (GZDUGV LILWLVGHPRQVWUDWHGWKDWDGGLWLRQDODJHQWVDUH likely to enhance the impact of P. myrsiphylli.

Weeds in Natural Ecosystems

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors would like to thank a national collective of regional councils and the Department of Conservation for providing funding for this project and for logistical VXSSRUWLQWKHÀHOGDQG/\QOH\+D\HV /DQGFDUH5HVHDUFK IRUSURMHFWOLDLVRQZLWK WKLVFROOHFWLYH:HWKDQN-R5HHV5LFKDUG7RIW$VKHU-RQHVDQG-HQQL6WDQOH\IRUWKHLU DVVLVWDQFH:HDOVRWKDQN-R%HUU\5RVD+HQGHUVRQ5REHUW+RDUH6WHSKHQ7KRUSHDQG =KL4LDQJ=KDQJIRUDVVLVWDQFHZLWKLQYHUWHEUDWHLGHQWLÀFDWLRQV(ULF0F.HQ]LHIRU DVVLVWDQFHZLWKSDWKRJHQLGHQWLÀFDWLRQV6LPRQ)RZOHUDQG*X\)RUUHVWHUIRUVWDWLVWLFDO DGYLFHDQG4XHQWLQ3D\QWHU6KDXQ3HQQ\FRRNDQG'DUUHQ.ULWLFRVIRUKHOSIXOUHYLHZV of the manuscript.

REFERENCES (VOHU$(:LOGSODQWVLQ$XFNODQG$XFNODQG8QLYHUVLW\3UHVV$XFNODQG pp. +DUPDQ+0:DLSDUD1::LQNV&-6PLWK/$3HWHUVRQ3*:LONLH-3 Invertebrates and fungi associated with bridal creeper, Asparagus asparagoides $VSDUDJDFHDH LQ1HZ=HDODQG/DQGFDUH5HVHDUFK&RQWUDFW5HSRUW1R /&/DQGFDUH5HVHDUFK$XFNODQG1HZ=HDODQGSS 0RULQ/(GZDUGV3%6HOHFWLRQRIELRORJLFDOFRQWURODJHQWVIRUEULGDOFUHHSHUD UHWURVSHFWLYHUHYLHZ$XVWUDOLDQ-RXUQDORI(QWRPRORJ\² 0RULQ/:LOOLV$-$UPVWURQJ-.ULWLFRV'6SUHDGHSLGHPLFGHYHORSPHQWDQG LPSDFWRIWKHEULGDOFUHHSHUUXVWLQ$XVWUDOLDVXPPDU\RIUHVXOWV,Q6SDIIRUG-DFRE +'RGG-0RRUH-+HG3URFHHGLQJVRIWKHth Australian Weeds Conference. 3ODQW3URWHFWLRQ6RFLHW\RI:$,QF3HUWK$XVWUDOLD3S² 5R\%3RSD\,&KDPSLRQ3-DPHV75DKPDQ$$QLOOXVWUDWHGJXLGHWRFRPPRQ ZHHGVLQ1HZ=HDODQGQGHGLWLRQ1HZ=HDODQG3ODQW3URWHFWLRQ6RFLHW\/LQFROQ 1HZ=HDODQG Syrett P 1999. Prospects for biological control of climbing asparagus, Asparagus scandens 7KXQEHUJ $VSDUDJDFHDH /DQGFDUH5HVHDUFK&RQWUDFW5HSRUW1R/& /DQGFDUH5HVHDUFK/LQFROQ1HZ=HDODQGSS :DLSDUD1:0F.HQ]LH(+&+DUPDQ+0:LQNV&-3DUN')LUVWUHFRUGRIEULGDO creeper rust, Puccinia myrsiphylli, a classical biocontrol agent of the environmental weed bridal creeper, Asparagus asparagoidesLQ1HZ=HDODQG$XVWUDODVLDQ3ODQW 'LVHDVH1RWHV²