Chrystal Kelly

M Sc student

Chrystal’s research involves charophyte response to herbicide and mycoherbicide treatments where I’ll be examining the effects of three herbicides (diquat, endothall and fluridone) and a mycoherbicide in relation to charophyte germination, germling susceptibility and species response, in a laboratory scale study. Charophytes are native submerged aquatic plants and are recognised as a beneficial component of lake ecosystems. Invasive aquatic plants are known to exclude and replace charophytes through the formation of dense mono-specific stands. The current chemical control methods used in New Zealand for invasive aquatic plants include two registered aquatic herbicides; diquat and endothall. Fluridone, which is currently used in USA, has not been registered in New Zealand but has the potential as a selective control agent. More recently, a naturally occurring aquatic fungus, prepared as a mycoherbicide, has been evaluated for use. These control methods have been successful on target weeds and have shown no impact on mature charophyte species, however, the potential for impact on germling and oospore germination has received little attention. This research has important implications for management of aquatic plants as it demonstrates the need to consider relative efficacy of the treatments over the full life cycle of native charophytes. Chrystal is supervised by David Hamilton, Mary de Winton and Deborah Hofstra

 

E-mail: clk6@waikato.ac.nz, c.kelly@niwa.co.nz