Tropical Soda Apple - 15 Years On

Rod Ensbey

1. Team Leader, Invasive Species Responses and Programs, Weeds Biosecurity, NSW Department of Primary Industries & Regional Development, Grafton NSW 2460
Email: rod.ensbey@dpi.nsw.gov.au


SUMMARY
Tropical Soda Apple (Solarum viarum) is regulated by a Biosecurity Control Order under the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015. It was first identified in Australia in the upper Macleay Valley in New South Wales (NSW) in August 2010. It is unknown how it was introduced to NSW and prior to discovery was unknown in Australia. TSA has the potential to spread in coastal regions of NSW and Queensland, and inland through cattle movements.

Tropical soda apple (TSA), is an aggressive, prickly, perennial shrub 1–2 m high. It invades open to semi-shaded areas, particularly pastures and riparian zones, but also forests. Its foliage is unpalatable to livestock, thus reducing carrying capacities, however cattle eat the fruit and spread viable seeds in manure.

Under the Biosecurity Control Order management regime, no new incursions of TSA have been found outside of the known Local Control Authority and regional areas. TSA still only occurs within the North Coast, the Midcoast LCA part of the Hunter, the Armidale and Tenterfield LCA parts in the New England LLS regions. All effected LCAs are fully engaged and currently implementing inspection, undertaking compliance and control programs. This is evident through ongoing Biosecurity Information System (BIS) data reports.

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) leads the NSW TSA Taskforce that meet 3 times a year. The Taskforce has developed a State Strategy and a best practice manual.

This paper will cover the progress of the TSA program over the 15 years since the incursion, the successes, progress, problems, natural disasters and landholder engagement.

Keywords: Tropical soda apple, control order, landholder engagement, inspections