Himalayan balsam rust coming your way

[alldigging]

The proposed solution | Himalayan Balsam


There had been talk of a bug that they were going to release to kill it - but they're going to try this rust.

[Martin H]

It will be interesting to see whether the rust attacks any other plants once it's released over here.

[Kristen]

It will be interesting to see whether the rust attacks any other plants once it's released over here.

Indeed. The boffins say that it's an "obligate biotrophic fungus" so that can't happen ... where have I heard boffins promising things like that before? Terminator Genes ... No Thanks!

[Martin H]

Indeed. The boffins say that it's an "obligate biotrophic fungus" so that can't happen ...

I don't know the science behind this. I'm pretty sure they won't have individually tested every plant species that occurs in Britain, just on the off-chance that it might be capable of hosting this pathogen!

The article says the rust is "co-evolved" with Himalayan balsam so I expect that's where it will be happiest and it probably won't attack anything else with any great enthusiasm.

[Noosner]

Well, let's hope it works. V good news if it does.

[Jeanied]

Does anyone else remember the mould that attacked the Himalayan Balsam's relative, the Busy Lizzie? I used to grow them in window boxes - a lovely sight - until the mould started wiping them out each year. Now you don't see them as window box / hanging basket flowers.

[Kristen]

Now you don't see them as window box / hanging basket flowers.

I think that is because The Trade mutually decided not to sell them??, in order to try to conquer the problem.

[alldigging]

The fungus they're using does affect one minor ornamental variety.

[Kirk]

Seems strange that some areas it has taken over are considered high conservation status so chemical or manual intervention is prohibited. So no action is taken.

It just seems odd to allow anything both foreign and invasive there free range to eliminate the natural plant life then still conserve it. Doesn't the presence of the invasive foreign item negate the status as high conservation, to at least some extent?

Just seems like saying a destruction plant on a grade 1 listed building has to be allowed to destroy the building, because the building is grade 1 listed and nothing can be touched.