The CSIRO announced that it will be releasing the Venturia paralias fungi to attack the invasive coastal weed called sea spurge that is threatening nesting sites of native Australian little penguins as well as coastal vegetation. “Our research found that the fungus is highly specific towards sea spurge. Based on our results, the fungus was approved by the regulator for release in Australia,” Caroline Delaisse, CSIRO research technician said. The fungi was originally found to cause leaf and stem lesions on sea spurge plants in the Atlantic and Mediterranean coast of France and will be released at Port Campbell in Victoria, a common nesting area for little penguins. Delaisse said the fungus was isolated from diseased sea spurge plants and tested in France. After yielding positive results on its host range, the biocontrol agent was then imported to CSIRO’s quarantine facility and studied extensively in Australia. The CSIRO’s studies in …