EPPO Global Database

EPPO Reporting Service no. 08 - 2007 Num. article: 2007/163

Machinery pathway: what is on your vehicle?


In Victoria (Australia), 35 vehicles and machines were cleaned and assessed for weed contamination: 18 utility and 4x4 vehicles, and 17 agricultural machines. The utility vehicles were mainly from local and state government organizations (except for 3 vehicles belonging to private contractors). All vehicles were exposed in their daily business to weed propagules. When collected, samples were visually assessed, spread over trays, and watered so that contaminating seeds could germinate.
More than 130 species were identified. Fourteen of these were declared noxious weeds in Victoria and 6 were regionally prohibited. The highest number of species found on a single vehicle was 38. No vehicles were free from contaminants. Poaceae, Asteraceae and Fabaceae were the most commonly represented families.
The most frequently found species or genus are listed in the table below, with their family, origin, and status in the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW) which indicates their invasive behaviour elsewhere in the world, as well as the number of occurrences observed on vehicles and machinery.

Species
Family
Origin
GCW Status*
Vehi.
Mach.
Bromus catharticus
Poaceae
Americas
W, EW
4
6
Cenchrus spp.
Poaceae
;
W, QW
1
0
Centaurea calcitrapa
Asteraceae
Medit., W-As.
W, NW, GE, EW
1
0
Cirsium vulgare
Asteraceae
Euras.
W, NW, EW
2
0
Conium maculatum
Apiaceae
Europe
W, QW, NW, GE, EW
0
1
Crassula sp.
Crassulaceae
;
W
6
6
Dittrichia graveolens
Asteraceae
Medit., Middle East
W, NW, EW
2
0
Foeniculum vulgare
Apiaceae
Medit.
W, NW, GE, EW
0
1
Hordeum sp.
Poaceae
;
W, EW
6
3
Juncus acutus
Juncaceae
?
W, NW, Nat W, EW
0
1
Juncus bufonius
Juncaceae
Cosm.
W, EW
7
8
Lolium sp.
Poaceae
;
W, EW
7
8
Marrubium vulgare
Lamiaceae
Euras., N-Af.
W, QW, NW, GE, EW
1
0
Medicago sp.
Fabaceae
;
W
5
7
Nassella neesiana
Poaceae
S-Am.
W, QW, NW, EW
1
1
Oxalis pes-caprae
Oxalidaceae
S-Af.
W, NW, NatW, GE, EW
0
2
Pennisetum macrourum
Poaceae
S-Af.
W, QW, NW, GE, EW
1
0
Phalaris sp.
Poaceae
;
W, NW
7
8
Plantago coronopus
Plantaginaceae
Eurasia
W, GE, EW
4
10
Plantago lanceolata
Plantaginaceae
Eurasia
W, NW, GE, EW
2
8
Poa annua
Poaceae
Eurasia
W, NW, GE, EW
4
8
Polygonum sp.
Polygonaceae
;
W, QW
4
10
Rumex sp.
Polygonaceae
;
W, NW, EW
4
9
Silybum marianum
Asteraceae
Eurasia
W, QW, NW, EW
1
0
Sonchus oleraceus
Asteraceae
Eurasia
W, NW, EW
5
5
Tribulus terrestris
Zygophyllaceae
Madagascar
W, NW, NatW
2
1
Trifolium sp.
Fabaceae
;
W, EW
6
5
Ulex europaeus
Fabaceae
Eurasia
W, QW, NW, GE, EW
1
0
Vulpia sp.
Poaceae
;
W
7
9
Xanthium spinosum
Asteraceae
Trop. Am.
W, QW, NW, EW
1
0

* Abbreviations for the Global Compendium of Weeds column:
W: weed; NW: noxious weed; NatW: native weed; QW: quarantine weed; GE: garden escape; EW: environmental weed.

Although the sample size was possibly too small to draft any broad conclusions, this study highlights the fact that vehicles and machinery can play an important role in weed dispersal. Thorough cleaning of vehicles would significantly reduce the risk of speading weeds.


Sources

Under Control - Pest Plant and Animal Management News n°32 (2005) Victorian Departments of Sustainability and Environment and Primary Industries in Australia. 15-17 p. www.dse.vic.gov.au/undercontrol