This research project will develop novel environmental DNA (eDNA) detection and surveillance tools to enable low-cost and rapid detection of Prohibited Matter weeds and to establish proof of freedom before and after treatments

Early detection of new invasive weed incursions is a key objective in the newly funded project “Rapid Response for State Prohibited Matter Weeds”, aimed at significantly reducing entry and establishment of Prohibited Matter (PM) weeds.

Early alert to the presence of new incursions across natural and agricultural ecosystems is critical for implementing the Response Plans of Prohibited Matters, allowing prompt on-ground actions, increasing the success of eradication and containment, and reducing ongoing risks of spreads and impacts on agricultural and natural assets.

Detection of novel weed incursions typically relies on human surveyors scanning thousands and thousands of plants while traversing the landscape. This conventional approach is labour intensive, time and resource prohibitive and subject to human error and heavy environmental interference. Further, many weed introductions go undetected for years, allowing them to move into new areas and habitats. Subsequently early opportunities for their eradication may be missed as the weeds establish across multiple areas and habitats.

Landscape-scale surveillance using environmental DNA (eDNA) approaches, where trace tissues and DNA of target weeds are filtered from environments and identified to species within 48 hours, would increase the likelihood of early detection and eradication of new weed incursions.

Project value: $750,000

Project partners/collaborators: Dr Karen Bell, Dr Xiacheng Zhu and Dr David Gopurenk