Fungus introduced illegally in 1984

A clandestine and illegal introduction of the fungus Phragmidium violaceum, known as blackberry rust, into Australia in the summer of 1983-1984 remains one of the most significant and mysterious breaches of biosecurity regulations in the country's recent history.

Blackberry's arrival and spread

Blackberry plants were first introduced to Australia from Great Britain in the 1840s, valued for their juicy fruit and utility in forming hedges. While few herbivores can eat the spiny plant, its berries are a food source for a variety of animals, including foxes and bandicoots. With the help of humans and animals, blackberries spread rapidly and by the end of the 1880s were considered a serious threat to agriculture.

Efforts to control blackberry growth

Efforts to control the plant in the 1890s had little effect. Scientists remained determined to find a solution, even if it took decades. During the interwar period, Australian scientists successfully used the cactus moth Cactoblastis to control the prickly pear cactus, a more invasive species. In the late 1960s, scientists at the Keith Turnbull Research Institute in Victoria began studying blackberry rust as a biological control agent. The fungus does not kill blackberry plants but slows their growth and reproduction.

Fungus discovered unexpectedly

In the early 1980s, a scientist named Eligio Bruzzese was sent to France to test the fungus. His experiments suggested the fungus would be effective and not threaten more valuable plants. However, the institute never had the opportunity to release the fungus. In February 1984, the fungus was unexpectedly discovered on blackberries near Yarram, Victoria. Within days, cases were found over 100 km away in the Dandenong Ranges and eastern suburbs of Melbourne.

Suspected human involvement

A journalist, Graeme O’Neill, wrote in The Bulletin that evidence suggested someone had traveled to Europe, likely France, collected infected blackberry leaves, and spread the fungus spores. If caught, the individual could have faced a fine of 100,000 Australian dollars or five years in prison. Bruzzese was not implicated, and he publicly expressed frustration that the strains he wanted to introduce would have been more effective.

New regulations and limited success

In 1984, the Australian federal parliament passed laws to facilitate scientific research on biological control. The minister for Primary Industries, John Kerin, cited the illegal introduction of violaceum as an example of the need for more transparent regulation. By 1991, authorities had begun releasing other strains of blackberry rust, but the fungus had only a limited effect. Authorities continue to rely on herbicides and manual removal. The cost of managing blackberries was estimated at over 100 million Australian dollars annually by 2017.

Blackberry's mixed legacy

While the exact reason for the illegal release remains unclear, blackberry plants are a nuisance for farmers, hikers, cyclists, and horse riders. They can block paths and waterways and are considered invasive, even though they provide food and habitat for native animals. Some Australians have expressed a nostalgic attachment to blackberries, recalling childhood memories of picking berries.

Blackberry's uncertain future

Despite its drawbacks, the blackberry is likely to remain in Australia. This means that more valuable pastures will be lost and hikers will continue to face scratches, but it also means that urban bandicoots will have more habitat and adventurous individuals can enjoy more delicious fruit. The mystery of the blackberry rust fungus may never be solved, but the incident highlights the complexity of invasive species and human responses to them.