Biocontrol introduction
Target pest: Lantana camara (Lamiales: Verbenaceae), lantana
Agent introduced: Puccinia lantanae (Pucciniales: Pucciniaceae), lantana blister rust
Imported:
2013; 2014
Import source:
Northland Regional Council (2011) - Peru via UK
Import notes:
Landcare (2015e) - colony lost from 2013 importation, 2014 one successful.
Released:
2015
Release details:
Landcare Research (2015i, 2015j, 2016j) - 2 releases in autumn 2015 at Cable Bay and Kohukohu in Northland.
Establishment:
Landcare Research (2016j) - no sign of establishment at Cable Bay or Kohukohu in August 2016.
Landcare Research (2019h) - there is no evidence yet that Puccinia lantanae has established.
Landcare Research (2021f) - does not appear to have established.
Impacts on non-targets:
Northland Regional Council (2011) - host testing was carried out in the UK. Only four of the 40 non-target plants tested showed any symptoms of infection by this rust: Gmelina leichardtii (family Lamiaceae) (though further testing concluded that the symptoms originally observed were not caused by P. lantanae), and, in family Verbenaceae, Lippia alba, Phyla canescens and Verbena officinalis. Minor symptoms only developed. The first three species do not occur in New Zealand; V. officinalis is sometimes grown in New Zealand as an ornamental. Low numbers of spores produced on V. officinalis suggest that even if there is “spill-over” infection from L. camara the rust is unlikely to persist on this host. There are seven Verbena species in New Zealand. All are naturalised and potentially weedy. There are no known plantings of Verbena species or other species of the family Verbenaceae for pharmaceutical or other economic purposes. New Zealand has no native species in this family. It is concluded that the risk to valued native and economic plants in New Zealand is insignificant.
General comments:
Landcare Research (2021f) - does not appear to have established and a further attempt will be made in 2021.
EPA Applications:
EPA (2012a) - 9 Dec 2011: application by Northland Regional Council to release two rust fungi; Puccinia lantanae and Prospodium tuberculatum, as biological control agents for the weed Lantana camara. EPA Application # APP201171, approved without controls 27 Apr 2012.
References
EPA (2012a). EPA application APP201171: to import and release isolates of two rust fungi, Puccinia lantanae and Prospodium tuberculatum, as biological control agents for the weed Lantana camara. Environmental Protection Authority website https://www.epa.govt.nz/database-search/hsno-application-register/view/APP201171
Landcare Research (2015e). Lantana rust releases to begin. What's new in biological control of weeds? 71: 5 http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/publications/newsletters/biological-control-of-weeds/issue-71
Landcare Research (2015i). Who's who in biological control of weeds? Weed Biocontrol: What's New? 73: 10-11 http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/publications/newsletters/biological-control-of-weeds/issue-73
Landcare Research (2015j). Biocontrol agents released in 2014/15. Weed Biocontrol: What's New? 73: 2 http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/publications/newsletters/biological-control-of-weeds/issue-73
Landcare Research (2016j). Lantana leaf rust off to great start Weed Biocontrol: What's New? 78: 4 http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/128858/Issue-78.pdf
Landcare Research (2019h). Spring activities. Weed Biocontrol: What's New? 89, August 2019 https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/publications/newsletters/biological-control-of-weeds/weed-biocontrol-issue-89/spring-activities
Landcare Research (2021f). Who's who in biological control of weeds? Weed Biocontrol: What's New? 97, August 2021 https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/publications/weed-biocontrol/weed-biocontrol-articles/whos-who-in-biological-control-of-weeds
Northland Regional Council (2011). Application to EPA (APP201171) to import and release isolates of two rust fungi, Puccinia lantanae and Prospodium tuberculatum, as biological control agents for the weed Lantana camara. Environmental Protection Authority website https://www.epa.govt.nz/assets/FileAPI/hsno-ar/APP201171/ec98cc022c/APP201171-APP201171-Application.pdf
