New Zealand: Imported plant disease first used in war on weeds
The government's Landcare Research institute said Wednesday it had released the Peruvian disease, lantana blister rust, in the eastern North Island in a bid to control lantana, considered one of the world's 10 worst weeds.
Landcare Research scientists said they had been searching for biocontrols before lantana became widespread and had settled on a pathogenic fungi.
Lead researcher on the project Maj Padamsee said the emerging weed posed a serious threat to New Zealand's agricultural industry as it was extremely difficult to control once established and could easily overrun farmland.
"These releases are pre-emptive to make sure it doesn't get to that point. We're trying to nip lantana in the bud," she said in a statement.
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