NATURALLY occurring fungi are being exploited to kill the major problem weed parkensonia.
What has researchers excited is that the selected fungi do not impact on other plant species.
Associate Professor Victor Galea told the Reef Range and Red Dust conference in Caloundra on Wednesday that it was expected Di-Bak Pakensonia would be released commercially through commercial company BioHerbicides Australia early next year.
Assoc Prof Galea said while some implanted plants were killed after six months, extensive trial work showed the majority of trees died at about 24 months.
Importantly, the fungi spread through the roots system of the weed resulting in the control of clumps of parkensonia including seedlings and potential seeds.
Parkensonia is classified as a weed of national significance and affects about three million hectares across northern Australia.
The fungi contained in the capsule feed off millet before it is implanted into the stem of the pest weed.
"We call them budgerigar vitamin capsules," Assoc Prof Galea said.
"It's an adjunct to other control methods and is particularly useful in riparian areas and where mechanical work cannot be done."
Parkensonia was first introduced from South America as an ornamental plant in Australian gardens.
It boasts a particularly attractive yellow flower and a seed pod containing four to six seeds.
Researchers are also working on a fungi capsule to spread the die-back disease in prickly acacia.