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An experiment was conducted in two gorse populations (Ulex europaeus ) in which Chondrostereum purpureum was applied each month as mycelial-agar cultures to the wounds of decapitated stems of previously untreated gorse plants to determine its potential as a mycoherbicide. Summer Á/autumn (Feb Á/May) or late winter Á/early spring (Aug Á/Sept) applications were effective in both populations, halving stem stump survival (from an average of 56 to 29%). Another experiment in the same gorse populations evaluated the combined effects of C. purpureum applied in May to decapitated stems, and Fusarium tumidum applied as spores in an invert emulsion to regenerative shoots 5 Á/6 months later. There was no evidence of synergism between the two fungi; each pathogen independently reduced the density of regenerative shoots on the decapitated stems by 39 Á/63% averaged over the 12 months following their respective applications. It is concluded that both pathogens have potential as mycoherbicides for gorse regenerating after stem decapitation.

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Moth plant Araujia sericifera is an environmental weed in northern regions of New Zealand Due to its rapid spread its ability to cause substantial damage to natural ecosystems and the increasing cost of conventional control methods a biological control programme was initiated A survey of the plant in New Zealand found that damage attributed to either disease or insect herbivory was minimal with little biocontrol potential Botanical pathogen and insect surveys were subsequently initiated in the native South American range to locate and identify potential agents for classical biocontrol Potential agents associated with plant damage were collected Damage was mostly due to pathogenic attack with 90 of moth plant populations showing disease symptoms To date eight fungal pathogens have been associated with plant die back leaf necroses and a severe fruit rot At least two mosaic (virus) diseases were also found frequently associated with colonies of the aphid Aphis nerii

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