WAR ON THE BOTANIC ASSASSIN!
Bid to wipe out pink pest killing Scottish plants
WITH its delicate pink flowers and sweet scent, it was once highly prized by gardeners.
But Himalayan balsam is now deemed so much of a pest that scientists are deploying a new biological weapon to try to wipe out the invasive plant.
A rust fungus is to be released to kill off the fast-growing species, which is resistant to normal weedkillers. It will be the first time such a disease has been used in Scotland to control a non-native flower.
Himalayan balsam was introduced to Britain in the 19th century as a botanical curiosity but spread like wildfire, especially along riverbanks.
It kills off native plants and has even been blamed for flooding.
Last week, Environment Secretary Roseanna
Cunningham said the rust fungus would be used along the banks of the River Tweed as part of trial project by the Tweed Forum and the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI) to tackle the ‘species of concern’. CABI research scientist Kate Pollard said: ‘Extensive testing was done under quarantine conditions to confirm that the fungus was highly host-specific, infecting only Himalayan balsam, and safe for release.’
Tweed Forum director Luke Comins said: ‘Himalayan Balsam is just taking over. The rust fungus manifests itself on spots on the leaves then the plants die back. The key thing about this bio-control is it is specific to Himalayan balsam.’
Scottish Natural Heritage said the forum ‘has been awarded £100,000 from our Biodiversity Challenge Fund to tackle non-native species along 300 miles of the River Tweed’.