Thesis (B. App. Sci. (Hons.))--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Environmental Science and Management, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 115-132).

Chrysanthem Oides is a common Southern African shrub that grows in a variety of habitats. From coastal shrubland and fynbos to mountainous areas as far north as Kenya. The genus has two species and 8 subspecies. The diagnoses and delimitation of which have been based almost exclusively on morphological characteristics. This project aims to investigate, with the use of phylogenetic species concepts. The validity of these subspecies. Unlike biological species concepts that rely on reproductive isolation as a defining character of a species. Phylogenetic species concepts (PSC) are concerned with delimiting evolutionary significant units (ESUs). ESUs are evolutionarily isolated lineages, and under the PSC a species is an aggregation of organisms consistently diagnosable by a fixed character or combination of characters. This project therefore searched for genetic and physiological characters by which to delimit ESUs within the Cill), samhemoides genus. DNA sequencing was used to investigate the genetic characters, while gas exchange studies were used to investigate the ecophysiological characters. DNA sequence analysis indicated that the ESUs can be diagnosed by genetic means and that one species may be of hybrid origin. Field studies of three disparate genetically identifiable ESUs from three disparate climates found that there are noticeable differences in ecophysiological responses of these ESUs in the field. Plants from each ESU were transferred to a greenhouse and grown under identical conditions for several months and compared to determine if these traits are inherent, or elastic in relation to environmental conditions. Under simulated high rainfall conditions. There does not appear to be a significant difference in the photosynthetic traits.

Dissertation (PhD Agric)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Chrysanthemoides monilifera ssp. monilifera is a shrub indigenous to South Africa, which has become a serious weed of native vegetation in Australia. Endophyllum osteospermi is a microcyclic, autoecious, rust fungus that induces witches' brooms on C. monilifera ssp. monilifera. This rust is considered as a candidate biocontrol agent for use against C. monilifera ssp. monilifera in Australia. The vegetative growth and reproductive output of healthy branches on bushes with different levels of E. osteospermi infections were measured at three sites. The growth of healthy branches on infected bushes was 26- 81% less than that of healthy branches on uninfected bushes. The number of buds, flowering capitulae, fruiting capitulae, and cypselas on healthy branches of infected bushes was 35-75%, 45-90%, 15-99%, and 15-90% less, respectively, than those on uninfected bushes. At five sites, the infection levels and number of witches' brooms were determined every two months. The increase in number of witches' brooms per bush ranged between o and 282 within one year, with an average increase per bush of28 (SE ± 4.8) and 39 (SE ± 9.2) during two years. The average simple interest rate (rs) increase of infection levels for all bushes was 0.015 month-I (s.e. ± 0.0041, n = 72) and 0.0098 month" (s.e. ± 0.0073, n = 43) during two years. Aecidioid teliospores germinated between 10 and 20oe, with 15°e as optimum. Light, and particularly near-uv light, stimulated germination. A period of 6 to 8 hours of light was needed to obtain optimum germination levels. The temperature requirements for basidiospore development differed from that of aecidioid teliospore germination. Optimum was at 15°e, but a rapid decrease in basidiospore production occurred at higher temperatures, few developed at 19°e. Two nuclear divisions occurred within 12 hours of germination to produce a metabasidium with three or four nuclei. A third nuclear division occurred in the basidiospores between 24 and 48 hours. Plants inoculated under controlled conditions took 5 to 24 months before witches' brooms began to develop. A Geographic Information System (GIS) approach was used to model the potential distribution of E. osteospermi in South Africa, based on monthly average climate surfaces with parameters derived from the above experiments. The same model was applied to Australia to suggest a potential distribution of the rust if released in Australia. This potential distribution was similar to one generated using the climate matching computer programme CLIMEX©, but gave greater spatial accuracy. Both approaches indicate that E. osteospermi should establish in temperate Australia. Chrysanthemoides species, as well as other South African asteraceaus plants, were monitored for E. osteospermi between 1992 and 2003. Endophyllum osteospermi was recorded on C. monilifera ssp. monilifera, C. monilifera ssp. pisifera, C. monilifera ssp. rotundata, C. monilifera ssp. canescens, C. monilifera ssp. subcanescens, C. incana, an undescribed taxon of Chrysanthemoides, Osteospermum ciliatum, 0. polygaloides and 0. potbergense. Endophyllum dimorphothecae sp. nov. is described on Dimorphotheca cuneata. Aecidium elytropappi, which was recorded on Elytropappus rhinocerostis and Stoebe plumose, is transferred to Endophyllum as E. elytropappi comb. nov. Germination of aecidioid teliospores and penetration by basidiospores were observed on the surface of excised leaves of 32 plant species at 4 days after inoculation. Germinating aecidioid teliospores aborted on 14 plant species, whilst no penetration was attempted on a further 12. Penetration only occurred on 9. Therefore only these 9 plant species need to undergo traditional host specificity testing. Pending these results, E. osteospermi could be safely released in Australia for the biological control of C. monilifera ssp. monilifera. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Chrysanthemoides monilifera ssp. monilifera 'n meerjarige wat inheems in Suid Afrika is, het 'n belangrike onkruid in Austalië geword. Endophyllum osteospermi 'n mikrosikliese, autoecious roesswam, induseer heksebesems op C. monilifera ssp. monilifera. Hierdie roesswam word as 'n potensiële biologiese beheeragent teen C. monilifera ssp. monilifera in Austalië beskou. Die vegetatiewe groei en voortplanting van gesonde takke op struike met verskillende vlakke van E. osteospermi infeksies is by drie lokaliteite gemeet. Groei van gesonde takke op geinfekteerde bosse was 26-81 % minder as die van gesonde takke op ongeïnfekteerde bosse. Die aantalokselknoppe, blommende capitulum, vrugdraende capitulum en pitvrugte op individuele gesonde takke van geïnfekteerde bosse was onderskeidelik 35-75%, 45-90%,15-99%, en 15-90% minder, as die op ongeïnfekteerde bosse. By vyf lokaliteite is die infeksievlakke en die aantal heksebesems elke twee maande vasgestel. Die toename in heksebesems van elke plant was tussen 0 en 282 binne eenjaar, met 'n gemmidel van 28 (SE ± 4.8) en 39 (SE ± 9.2) geduurende twee jaare. Die gemiddelde eenvoudige rentekoers (rs) toename in infeksievlakke van al die struike was 0.015 maand" (s.e. ± 0.0041, n = 72) en 0.0098 maand-1 (s.e. ± 0.0073, n = 43) gedurende twee jaare. Ontkieming van aecidioidteliospore het tussen 100e en 200e met 15°e as die optimum. Lig en veral naby-uv lig het ontkieming gestimuleer, terwylontkieming relatief swak was onder donker toestande. 'n Periode van 6 tot 8 uur lig was nodig vir optimale ontkiemingsvlakke. Die temperatuurvereistes vir basidiospoor ontwikkeling het verskil van die van aecidioid teliospoor ontkieming. Optimale was by 15°e, maar 'n vinnige afname in basidiospoorproduksie het by hoër temperature voorgekom, min het by 19°e voorgekom. Twee kernverdelings het binne 12 ure van die begin van ontkieming voorgekom om 'n metabasidium te produseer met drie of vier kerne. 'n Derde kern verdeling het in die basidiospore tussen 24 en 48 uur voorgekom. Plante wat onder beheeerde toestande geïnokuleer is het heksebesems 5 tot 24 maande na inokulasie ontwikkel. 'n Geografiese Inligtings Sisteem (GIS) benadering is gebruik om 'n model vir die potensiële verspreiding van E. osteospermi in Suid Afrika te ontwikkel, gebasseer op die maandelikse gemiddelde klimaatoppervlaktes met parameters wat vanaf bogenoemde eksperimente verkry is. Dieselfde model is in Austalië toegepas om 'n potensiële verspreiding van die roesswam voor te stel. Hierdie potensiële verspreiding was soortgelyk aan 'n program wat met die klimaats vergelykende rekenaarsprogram CLIMEX© ontwikel is, maar dit het groter ruimtelike akkuraatheid gemaak. Beide benaderings het aangedui dat E. osteospermi in Austalië behoort te vestig. Chrysanthemoides spesies, asook ander inheemse plante van die Asteraceae, is tussen 1992 en 2003 vir die voorkoms van E. osteospermi in Suid Afrika waargeneem. Endophyllum osteospermi is op C. monilifera ssp. monilifera, C. monilifera ssp. pisifera, C. monilifera ssp. rotundata, C. monilifera ssp. canescens, C. monilifera ssp. subcanescens, C. incana, 'n onbeskryfde taxon van Chrysanthemoides, Osteospermum ciliatum, a. polygaloides en a. potbergense waargeneem. Endophyllum dimorphothecae sp. nov. is beskryf op Dimorphotheca cuneata. Aecidium elytropappi, wat op Elytropappus rhinocerostis en Stoebe plumosa voorkom, is by Endophyllum ingesluit as E. elytropappi comb. nov. Ontkieming van aecidioidteliospore en penetrasie deur basidiospore op die oppervlak van verwyderde blare van 32 plant spesies 4 dae na inokulasie is waargeneem. Ontkiemende aecidioidteliospore het op 14 toets plant spesies ge-aborteer, terwyl geen penetrasie op 'n verdere 12 gepoog is nie. Penetrasie het slegs op 9 voorgekom. Derhalwe hoef slegs die 9 plant spesies tradisionele gasheer spesifisiteitstoetse te ondergaan. Afhangende van die resultate kan E. osteospermi dus met veiligheid in Austalië vir die biologiese beheer van C. monilifera ssp. monilifera vrygelaat word.

A semi-herbaceous. pioneer plant Chryzanihtmoidts moniiifera was grown under varying environmental condition; in order to assess whether altering environmental variables would affect its hydraulic conductance and photo synthetic rates The plants were grown under sun and shade conditions, subjected to low and high watering treatments and to two different nutrient regimes. Steady-state gaseous exchange parameters, and whole-plant and leaf hydraulic conductance were measured on plants from each treatment. A key aspect of this study was to investigate how the following leaf components - petiole. major veins, minor veins and extravascular tissue - contributed to die overall resistance to water flow in the leaf (Ricaf). Vein orders were cut in specific sequences to interrupt water flow which then allowed the partitioning of leaf hydraulic resistances. The results showed that die maximum pbotosynthetic rate, under light saturating CO;. (A,^ was significantly affected by both nutrient and light treatments Environmental conditions (light, water and nutrient treatments) did not. however, affect the CO.- compensation point, or dark respiration of the measured A:C, curves for C. moniaftra. In terms of whole-plant hydraulic conductance, the shoot, stem and root were not significantly affected by environmental treatments. When investigating R«„. only the light treatments significantly affected the resistance of the petiole, extra vascular tissue, and minor vans Rf<trfc was found to be positively correlated with and contributed between 34-59 % of the total leaf resistance When considering the resistance of the leaf it was observed that the vascular tissue of the leaf contained up to 90 % of the total leaf resistance. The results from this study show that the hydraulic conductance of C. moniijfera was found to be significantly affected by light treatment; only. Water and nutrient treatments did not have a substantial impact upon the water flow of the plant. Leaf hydraulic resistance was partitioned differently to that of results from ocher studies, in that the petiole and major veins contained the majority of the leaf resistance In retrospect this study would have been more effective if C. monilitfera treatments were more severe, in terms of water and nutrients Further studies should focus on a comparison of leaf hydraulic resistance partitioning of other species, across a range of plant types. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2008.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Wollongong, 2007. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references: leaf 133-154.

Invasive plants cause ecosystem degradation throughout the world, including the reduction of native plant density and diversity, and changes in ecosystem structure and function. Woody weeds often grow faster than native species and in invaded habitats produce larger and/or more seed and outshade other mid- and under-storey species. Boneseed Chrysanthemoides monilifera ssp. monilifera (L.) T. Norl. has caused the degradation of many temperate woodlands in Australia and has not yet reached its full potential distribution in this country. The control of this weed is therefore a high priority in Australia. Biological control agents have not controlled boneseed populations to date and no detailed integrated control strategies exist for different densities of mature boneseed plants and soil seed banks in native vegetation of varying levels of degradation. Fire, herbicides and manual plant removal have previously been used to control boneseed; however, substantial landscape scale control has not yet been achieved. Boneseed population control experiments were undertaken in two temperate woodlands in Victoria, Australia. In highly degraded temperate grassy woodlands at the You Yangs Regional Park west of Melbourne in Victoria and in a highly diverse native closed woodland at Arthurs Seat State Park in south-eastern Victoria. Several combinations of the weed control techniques of fire, herbicide application, hand-pulling of seedlings and distribution of competitive native grasses were found to control both mature boneseed populations and the large reserves of viable boneseed seeds in the soil. The efficacy of controlled burning, and the combination and timing of control techniques were found to vary according to differing densities of boneseed plants, viable soil seed banks and post-fire emergent seedlings. Where sufficient fine fuel existed, a warm, even, autumn burn consumed above ground biomass, killed the majority of viable boneseed seed in the soil, and caused the remaining boneseed seed to germinate. Spraying with glyphosate herbicide was as effective as metsulfuron-methyl herbicide for killing boneseed seedlings along with the secondary climbing weed Billardiera heterophylla (Lindl.) L.W.Cayzer & Crisp after fire. However, the use of glyphosate also killed all native species, resulting in bare ground. After fire in species rich vegetation, boneseed was eliminated where seed of the native C3 grass Poa sieberiana Spreng. had been broadcast onto the post fire ash-bed, and seedlings had been sprayed five months after the burn or where seedlings had been sprayed 12 months after burning. Boneseed control occurred when seedlings were sprayed five months after the burn. In degraded vegetation few boneseed seedlings remained where seedlings were sprayed 17 months after fire. Where insufficient rainfall occurred, hand-pulling flowering boneseed seedlings prevented new seed fall for 6 to 12 months. Suggestions are made for the integration of these methods with the establishment and proliferation of biological control agents. A new protocol for utilising several integrated control strategies for boneseed and other woody weeds in a mosaic at both the site and landscape scale is described. A mosaic would allow for a variety of native species responses to fire and other control methods and thus lead to heterogeneous ages and structures within the native vegetation following weed control. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1457770 / Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Adelaide, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, 2009

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Wollongong, 2004. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references: leaf 142-167.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Wollongong, School of Biological Sciences. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references: leaf 161-203.