Clematis studied

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 8, Issue 372, 5 February 1991, Page 3

Clematis studied

Research into biological control of Old Man's Beard is currently under way involving overseas and national investigations into natural predators on the class "B' noxious weed. Dr Rod MacFarlane from DSIR in Christchurch was recently in Eketahuna with Manawatu- Wan-

ganui noxious plants officer, Bob Morgan. Together they investigated Old Man's Beard sites for native parasites already attacking the introduced clematis. Already parasites attacking the plant's stems and flowers have been identified and further research will be done on samples Dr MacFarlane has collected. Bob Morgan will continue his surveil-

lance of Old Man's Beard looking particularly for parasites which specifically attack the plant's seeds. This initial stage of what is expected to be a ten year programme involves researching specific sites over two seasons. "The programme involves a two pronged approach," says Richard Hill, Scientist, Biological Control, DSIR in Christchurch.

"Dr Rod MacFarlane is following up those areas where a native biological control agent or agents may be found . Dr Adrian Spiers is looking at overseas agents which may in time be introduced to New Zealand. Richard Hill is presently preparing a research plan which will lay out the stages of the programme over the next ten years. "Once I've completed that, DSIR will be approaching various agencies for funding. These projects do take time and funding is essential if they are to succeed." Dr Adrian Spiers from

DSIR, Aokautere, has recently returned from America and Europe where he collected samples of any fungi which attacked all species of clematis and sent them back to New Zealand where they were stored der quarantine. Since ^.turning he has been working on the samples isolating the fungi and identifying those which attack clematis vitalba, Old Man's Beard, in particular. The research programme, funded by the Department of Conservation, is carried out uhder laboratory conditions and tested to ensure the fungi will only attack Old Man's Beard and not other plants.