Biological Control of Bridal Creeper

AIMS:
1. To release the biological control agent rust fungus (Puccina myrsiphylli) for the control of bridal creeper (Asparagus asparagoides) (this is a Weed of National Significance).
2. To increase efficacy of spore water used to apply the rust fungus by trialling different water sources.

TREATMENTS:
Rust + Town water (pH 8.3)
Rust + Rain water (pH 7.0)
Leaves Only

CONCLUSIONS:
• There was no observable difference in the efficacy of rust release speed or effectiveness between using rain water or town water to produce bridal creeper spore water.
• All of the methods used in this trial were effective in establishing bridal creeper rust, although the leaves only method was more time consuming than the spore water method.