Biological Weed Control

Woody weed infestation in Australia costs millions in tax payer funded controls and lost land productivity. Governments and landowners alike have a responsibility and an obligation to manage woody weeds and, in the case of Parkinsonia and Prickly Acacia, this is mandated under legislation.

Current methods of control include chemicals, mechanical clearing and burning. BHA can also offer a biological solution for managing these weeds – by inducing dieback disease in the woody weeds, resulting in a long-term epidemic in the plant population. This can be integrated with other management strategies or used independently.

The science behind BHA’s bioherbicides has been trialled across Northern Australia specifically for Parkinsonia infestations. In multiple field trials dieback disease can be successfully induced into the natural Parkinsonia population through inoculation with fungi (Di-Bak Parkinsonia). This is a significant local research and development outcome and when fully commercialised the benefits (economical and environmental) will reach a broad cross-section of Australia.

BHA’s Di-Bak products- How they work

BHA’s Di-Bak products  are the only known bioherbicides aimed at woody weed control.

• They are produced in BHA’s plant under a controlled environment, utilising bioprocessing, encapsulation and packaging.

• They can be used as a stand-alone solution or to supplement chemical and mechanical controls as part of an integrated weed management plan.

•  The combination of pathogens contained in Di-Bak products are naturally occurring fungi found to kill woody weeds widely across northern Australia.  In locations where they have been found, these fungi have not had any negative effect on native or endemic plant species.

•  Di-Bak products are applied using capsules that contain the biological control fungi.

•  The capsule is inserted into the tree trunk through a freshly drilled hole. The hole is then sealed with a plug.

•  The dieback induced by Di-Bak takes 6-12 months to severely infect an inoculated tree and somewhat longer to express the full effect of killing the plant and spreading in a thicket.

•  The induced dieback triggers a long term epidemic which prevents seedlings from developing.

• Several years after Di-Bak treatment woody weed populations should be greatly weakened, leading to eradication.