Over 40 years ago, a mystery vigilante released a fungus to control blackberry in Australia. But why?
Blackberries have long been a problem for Australian farmers and bushwalkers. But who would have illegally released a fungus as a biological control?
In the summer of 1983-84, a fungus known as Phragmidium violaceum was clandestinely introduced to Australia with the sole intention of eradicating blackberry plants. While the identity of the perpetrator remains unknown, this incident marks one of the most significant and enigmatic breaches of biosecurity in Australia's recent history.
Blackberry, a plant indigenous to Britain, was introduced to Australia in the 1840s and quickly became a valued fruit source as well as a popular hedge plant. However, its invasive nature soon led to concerns over its impact on agriculture. Efforts to control blackberry began in the late 19th century, but were largely unsuccessful.
In the inter-war period, Australian scientists discovered a potential solution in the form of the Phragmidium violaceum fungus, which could slow the growth and reproduction of blackberry plants without harming other species. From the late 1960s, researchers at Victoria's Keith Turnbull Research Institute began studying the fungus as a potential biological control agent.
In 1983, Eligio Bruzzese, a top scientist from the institute, traveled to a French laboratory to test the fungus. His experiments indicated that the rust would be effective and would not threaten other valuable plants. However, the institute never had the opportunity to release the rust. In February 1984, the violaceum fungus was unexpectedly discovered on blackberry plants near Yarram in south-eastern Victoria.
Within days, more cases of rust were spotted over a 100km radius on blackberry plants in the Dandenong Ranges and Melbourne's eastern suburbs. Initial speculation suggested that someone had traveled to Europe, likely France, collected leaves from rust-affected blackberries, and subsequently introduced the fungal spores onto blackberry plants in Australia.
Despite the high stakes, with potential penalties of a $100,000 fine or five years in prison, no one was prosecuted for this illegal act. This incident raises questions about the decision-making process regarding the introduction of non-native species and the balance between potential benefits and risks.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
